Laraine's Brain Cancer Fight

**Update**

I started radiation a few days later than originally planned to allow MD Anderson’s pathologist read the slides from my biopsy that was done in May. Long story short, I have been diagnosed with glioblastoma. If you don’t know, glioblastoma is the most aggressive brain cancers out there. This is a very scary situation to be in. 

We are overwhelmed and grateful for all of the outpouring of kind words, love, support, and donations. As a mother, wife, and daughter I want to take as much stress off of my family as possible.  All of your donations will go towards my treatment, staying healthy, and helping my husband and daughter financially in the long run. 

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Have you ever thought about how much you love life and your family? You my not have it all, but you wouldn't trade anything about your life for anything... wonderful friends, family, job, house, etc. Then one day, in one moment, everything changes in you realize you could lose it in the blink of an eye.

 

You would think that moment was in 2016-2017 when I went into kidney failure and ultimately a kidney transplant at the end of 2017. Little did I know, that journey was to prepare me for the moment that happened on Mother’s Day weekend, Saturday May 8, 2021, when I woke up having a seizure. 

 

I'm used to strange things happening and random ER visits. So Geoff took Arianna to her soccer game and my mom took me to the ER. This turned into a four-night stay at one of the most expensive places in Dallas that included around-the-clock care, millions of dollars worth of equipment to run tests, and countless nurses, doctors, and specialists to help me in this small moment in time.

 

One of the tests included an MRI that showed a mass in my brain. Then, on Tuesday, May 11th, a neurosurgeon conducted a brain biopsy that ultimately confirmed a diffuse inoperable tumor identified as a Astrocytoma grade II. Medical science is so advanced they can tell more about cancer by running additional tests. So they submitted my brain tissue to Mayo Clinic Labs to determine if the tumor was IDH mutant or wild-type. After a two-week wait, the test came back inconclusive. I submitted saliva to be evaluated with the tissue for further testing. After another two-week wait, the test showed that I had Astrocytoma IDH-wild-type, with molecular features of glioblastoma.

 

During this four-week waiting period for the test to come back, I met with multiple neurosurgeons, neuro-oncologist, and radiation oncologists from 3 different hospitals (Baylor-Dallas, UT Southwestern, and MD Anderson Houston). After much discussion with family, friends, and doctors, we determined it was best to receive treatment at MD Anderson-Houston.

 

So, my friends, this is where we are at. I am scheduled to receive radiation from July 6th - August 16th. Radiation is 5-days a week M-F. Since I had a seizure, Texas law doesn't allow me to drive for 3 months (August) so my mom or Geoff will be home with Arianna during the week and the other person will be with me in Houston. I hope to come home on the weekends to spend time with Arianna.

 

Many people have asked how they can help. I'm very fortunate that my dear neighbors/friends have a place I can stay in Houston for July. So, where we can accept help is time or money to help with lawn care, house cleaning, gas, meals/food/groceries for who is home with Arianna during the week and for me and Geoff/my mom in Houston, and help with a hotel for 2 weeks in August.

 

We love spending time with friends so playdates are always welcome too!

If anyone wants to come to Houston with me for a week, you are more than welcome. I'll be working remotely as much as possible during the week so life in Houston will be pretty quiet.

 

Thank you all for your love and support!

Laraine, Geoff, Arianna, and Carol