#5.
Research, reading and meditation
After bein relaesed from surgery, I threw myself into researching and reading about gliobastoma. Sadly, most sites put survivor rates at the top of the page, which I was in no way prpared to deal with. When I saw survivor statsics coming I woudl close the page. My cousin, an RN, recommended a wonderful book https://www.amazon.com/Anticancer-New-Life-David-Servan-Schreiber/dp/067002164. Based on reommenfations in the book,i modified the diet and added supplements )with my oncologists approval). i also began to meditate every morning withYouTube videos, such as:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PAPE_3513PM&feature=youtu.be

#4. In the meantime,the tumor had already started to regrow. On approximately Sept 5th a second surgery was scheduled. Unfortunately, because of the tumor's location I would need to be awake to read and respond to written material. Entry point for surgery remained exactly the same as the first surgery.

#3. Surgery for tumor removal/exploration was scheduled, but sadly for 6 days later, which meant an extended hospital stay (little did I know). Surgery confirmed Glioblastoma, WHO grade level 4 (not the same as stage 4). We were then told we had to wait at least 6 weeks for things o heal up before chemo and radiation could begin.

#2. After sharing with the kids, Emma and I were hanging loose in the room. We looked across to the top of the garage where construction was taking place. Comically, the top of the porta-potty was chopped off, rendering privacy impossible. One of the construction workers went into the porta-potty, at which point he unwittingly became a member of a pact with me. It occurred to me that the potty was sort of a metaphor for exposure and perseverance .My pact with potty-dude was this: "Death is not an option" which has since been my daily mantra.

##1 On August 3rd,2016, Ned had just arrived home from Taiwan. We decided to go to Starbucks with Emma and Nan to see Tristan. While there my lower lip suddenly went quite numb. My left side, as well, becam where an MRI confirmed a tumore weak. I informed the kids that I was having an issue an theywent into Stroke awareness mode. In short order an ambulance was called and I was taken to Oak Park Hospital, a Rush affiliate. A CT scan didn't reveal evidence of stroke, but a lip tremor and brain mass pointed to a tumor. Another ambulance trip followed to Rush downtown,

And so begins the treck

#1 On August 3rd,2016, Ned had just arrived home from Taiwan. We decided to go to Starbucks with Emma and Nan to see Tristan. While there my lower lip suddenly went quite numb. My left side, as well, became weak. I informed the kids that I was having an issue an theywent into Stroke awareness mode. In short order an ambulance was called and I was taken to Oak Park Hospital, a Rush affiliate. A CT scan didn't reveal evidence of stroke, but a lip tremor and brain mass pointed to a tumor. Another ambulance trip followed to Rush downtown, where an MRI confirmed a tumor

Background

BACKGROUND
at the time of my one and only seizure episode I was 56 Y.O. married man with 3 children from a prior marriage (Tristan, Ned and Emma). Aside from two stick drops while warming up prior to symphony, I had no indication that anything was potentially amiss.