Beauty and the Brain Tumor: Support Angela Lewis

Hello to all of Angela's friends, family and clients.

Angela, whose light shines so bright in our lives, has held space for us all in our times of needs. Whether in or out of her chair, she's supported us on our journeys with her compassion, love and wisdom. She has instilled hope in us when we though it was lost. Now, our pillar of strength needs us to support her and give her hope.

Please support Angela in her upcoming medical journey so she can spend less time worrying about financial survival and more energy on getting better. All proceeds will be transferred directly to Angela to support with her medical bills and any livings needs she has to get through this ordeal.

To understand her journey, I'll let Angela tell you in her own words...

"Over the Last 9 years, I have had to be the biggest advocate for myself, as the neuro-oncology doctor I was with, who was supposed to be the BEST of the BEST for Neuro and Oncology, wasn't giving me the best support for my medical needs. I was told to stay with him as he also knew my tumor specifically. Well, I haven’t loved him, but I tolerated him and accepted the fact that his bedside manner was just CRAP! It’s been a long, long road with a few incidences happen (including a few hospital visits)… it’s been EXHAUSTING!

Then a few months ago, my pharmacist said to me “Your doctor took a leave of absence and we don’t know when he’s coming back?” I NEVER received a letter, a phone call, an email, that he was taking a leave of absence. If anybody is thinking "well, why can't you just go get a new doctor?" trust me, it doesn't work that way. In this world with cancer doctors you need referrals to get on their schedules, which are booked out until May! and I only had until March before my medicine prescription would run out. After a long process of searching, the manager of operations at Swedish Hospital helped me find some two new doctors.

I met with the neuro doctor first, since he was the main one I needed to see for the sake of medicine, as well as MRI ordering (as I get a new image of my brain approximately every 6 months). As my new neuro doctor looked through my last MRI, he was shocked because he saw something on it that alarmed him. He read the notes from my old neuro doctor and notices the words “Nodules” on my brain scan. This basically means “new growth”

HE NEVER CALLED OR INFORMED ME!!!

Thankfully, I had an appointment to see my new oncology doctor 5 days later. That was a LONG 5 days. Armed with a new MRI scan that the Neuro doctor had expedited, we found there was MORE growth since the last MRI. This means for 10 months a new tumor has been growing in me that I was never informed about!! I had been told there was a 5% chance that my old tumor I had, would grow into a new one … I guess I made that 5% ‍♀️. I NEEDED treatment now... and it was to be brain surgery .

After the brain surgery, they will perform a biopsy and see what and if any form of treatment will need to be done after.

Here's the science behind it: the tumor I had previous does not grow outside of its “home”… but the remaining cells continued to grow and “diffused” around the perimeter of the old tumor site, which is why they believe it’s a new tumor. The doctors just don’t know enough about this new tumor and need the information from the biopsy, which is why surgery is my ONLY option at this moment!

I have met with the surgeon, who I absolutely LOVE, and I officially will be going into brain surgery, April 26, 2024.

My heart is broken. I feel so drained from my medical journey over the last 9 years and now I have to muster up the rest of my strength I have left to get through this! I WILL get through this… but it will just be a lot harder than last time. I’m definitely getting better each day mentally and am trying to be as ready as I can. I know I’ve at least run this rodeo once before so I know what to expect, which is a blessing, I just also know the long, hard road I have ahead of me.

I’ve screamed, I've released tears, I've fallen to the ground... but I continue to pick myself up, wipe my tears, and put my STRONG WARRIOR face on as I enter the next phase in my life. I KNOW I will get through this and I appreciate all your love, support, prayers, thoughts and good juju. Really, anything you can send my way will be very much appreciated!♥️

To you all:

- STAY HUMBLE

- BE KIND

- THROW AWAY THOSE ROCK BEING THROWN AT YOUR BACK

- STAY STRONG

LIFE IS NOT EASY but YOU WILL GET THROUGH

Love always, Angela xxx"