Boats, Bikes, and Greyhounds

If you are new to my blog, I feature brain tumor survivors on my blog on Thursdays.  You can read more about this feature and archived posts here.

It is my pleasure to introduce you to C Michael Miller.

I hope…

I hope that advances in technology will allow more understanding for the less known medical issues.  My own Acoustic Neuroma (benign brain tumor) diagnosis took over a year to find, due mostly to a lack of awareness of the condition — both in the general population and in the medical community.

I wish…

I wish that everyone with a brain tumor (or any other major medical ailment) had a support network as amazing as mine was.  My wife, family, friends, doctors, therapists, and everyone else I came into contact with during my treatment and recovery were incredibly helpful and supportive.  I wish the same for everyone dealing with a difficult diagnosis.

I dream…

I dream of a time when the medical treatments for all brain tumors are less invasive and more successful.  Period.

I am (be)…

I am stronger because of my brain tumor.  I have gone on to new achievements in life, including long distance bicycling and writing a book.  I look forward to continuing to find new challenges.

Diagnosis and Treatment:

I was diagnosed with a 3.9cm Acoustic Neuroma (benign brain tumor) in 2009.  It was pressing on my cerebellum, brain stem, and facial nerve.  I had a fourteen hour Trans-Labyrinth approach surgery that got most of the tumor, but left a small sliver to preserve my facial nerve.  I also contracted Meningitis during my recovery due to a Cerebrospinal Fluid leak.  The tumor and surgery left me with some partial facial paralysis and deaf in one ear.

C Michael Miller’s MRI

3 things about me:

I went from a hospital bed after surgery to finishing a one-hundred mile bicycle ride a little over a year ago.  Crossing that finishing line (photo) marked the end of my physical recovery.

Crossing the finish line

I was lucky to not have my balance affected dramatically by my surgery, which has allowed me to continue my passion for sailing.

2012 National Ocean One Design regatta in Annapolis. I’m kneeling just over the “Bad” in Bad Cat.

I am passionate about greyhound rescue- my wife and I have been a foster home for our local greyhound rescue group for 10 years. (photo of our Rider)

Rider

I was inspired to write a book, Diagnosis: Brain Tumor – My Acoustic Neuroma Story, about my brain tumor experience. I’m excited to be able to share hope with others.  You can find more info at www.cmichaelmiller.com. (cover photo)

Diagnosis: Brain Tumor – My Acoustic Neuroma Story

If you would like to submit your profile for Brain Tumor Thursday here, please email me directly at memomuse@gmail.com or you can check out the information page and read past archives.  Caregivers and loved ones are welcome to share their profile too, following the same template. #BTSM and #BrainTumorThursday is a wonderful community reaching around the globe with out-stretched arms and love. If you are on Twitter, you can use the hash tags #BTSM and #BrainTumorThursday to reach out to this wonderful community.

You can leave C Michael a comment here or email him directly at author@cmichaelmiller.com. Thank you for your support of Brain Tumor Thursday.

Tammy’s Profile

If you are new to my blog, I feature brain tumor survivors on my blog on Thursdays.  You can read more about this feature and archived posts here.

It is my pleasure to introduce you to Tammy.

I hope…

I hope for a cure.

Brain Cancer Awareness

 I wish…

I wish for a cure for my headaches.

I dream…

I dream I will be here to see my kids grow up.

Tammy’s family

I am….

I am stronger than my cancer.

I was diagnosed January 2011 after I thought I was having mini strokes. It turned out to be GBM grade 4. I had my 1^st resection 1/7/2011. My second was 1/17/2012. I also had surgery for radiation necrosis–more cancer cells were found at that time. I did Temodar and 30 something treatments of radiation. After one of my surgeries, I wound up with spinal meningitis and staph and Pseudomonas infections. I was in the hospital for almost the entire spring of 2012. I had gamma knife surgery August 2011 for yet another tumor. In a couple of weeks, I will be given a vaccine my surgeon has been working on. He has had great success in his lab animals, so I am hoping for the same for me.

3 Things about me:

These are photos and images Tammy wanted to share.

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Diagnosis and Treatment:

1)    Diagnosed in January of 2011 with GBM grade 4

2)    First surgery on 1/7/2011

3)    Gamma knife surgery August 2011 for recurrence

4)    Second surgery on 1/17/2012

5)    Surgery for radiation necrosis of which more cancer cells were found

6)    Spinal meningitis along with staph and Pseudomonas infections

7)    Did Temodar and 30 treatments of radiation

8)    In hospital for pretty much the entire spring 2012

Please leave Tammy lots of comments as she will be reading the comments. If you want to send her a personal message, email me at memomuse@gmail.com and I will make sure she gets it.

If you would like to submit your profile for Brain Tumor Thursday here, please email me directly at memomuse@gmail.com or you can check out the information page and read past archives.  Caregivers and loved ones are welcome to share their profile too, following the same template. #BTSM and #BrainTumorThursday is a wonderful community reaching around the globe with out stretched arms and love. If you are on Twitter, you can use the hash tags #BTSM and #BrainTumorThursday to reach out to this wonderful community.

If I Only Had a Brain

If you are new to my blog, I feature brain tumor survivors on my blog on Thursdays.  You can read more about this feature and archived posts here.

It is my pleasure to introduce you to Amanda.

I hope….

That in life, I will touch many people hearts and help to make a difference in someone’s life.

If I Only Had a Brain Foundation is a non-profit Amanda founded

I wish…

That someone will find a cure for cancer and be able to detect it early on in life.

I dream….

To open my own camp for children and families with children suffering from brain tumors and epilepsy.

I am…

A lover. A person who’s life goal is to help people and to make not so good situations better.

I am a 24 year old who needs to make a difference.

Diagnosis and Treatment…

I was diagnosed with a pituitary tumor when I was 20 years old, one that was treated with medications for about 3 – 5 years. My tumor effected everything; my mood, my life, my dreams and ambitions. It consumed me and made me a completely different person. In March of this year, I was no longer responding to medications and sought out a neurologist to find out my next option.

I had two MRIs in 3 weeks in which my tumor trippled in size. I was referred to a neurosurgeon and the following week was in surgery. Luckily for me, I did not have to have a craniotomy. My surgery was done all through my nose (endoscopic skull base surgery) at New York Presbyterian Hospital by Dr. Theodore Schwartz.

I had a few complications –learned that I was severely allergic to the anesthetic, as well as morphine and ended up with a cerebral spinal fluid leak at my surgical site, as well as where they had done an epidural. I was in a coma for almost a full day where I was in the ICU and then moved to the neuro unit. A week after my surgery, I had to go for a blood patch to fix the leaks, which landed me on bed rest for a month and a 1/2.

While on bed rest, I decided to start my own non profit organization called  If I Only Had A Brain Foundation.

If I Only Had a Brain Foundation

My goals with the foundation are to open a summer camp for children with brain tumors and epilepsy that is focused around art, music and sports; all with theraputic techniques involved. I am holding my first silent auction and benefit dinner September 16th at the Olde Mill Inn in Basking Ridge NJ. All are welcomed. Tickets are $85 please email me (IfIOnlyHadABrainFoundation@gmail.com) if you are interested and would like to share your story! All of this years proceeds will be donated to Dr. Schwartz’s Brain Tumor and Epilepsy research and clinical development fund! Help me help others like us!!