A Tale of Fortitude...

Greetings my fellow readers! Trevor here with our new tale intertwining both Arthritis and Brain Tumor Awareness Month. The reason being, Brenda has lived with RA for 30 years and is almost a 13 year brain tumor survivor. Her craniversary or the anniversary of her craniotomy falls on September 8th. 

We are going to be focusing on the word fortitude. Webster defines fortitude as "strength of mind that enables a person to encounter danger or bear pain or adversity with courage." 

Brenda has certainly exhibited this in many aspects of her life. None more so than arising to the challenge of living with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) for 30 years now and continuing on her path as a brain tumor survivor. One cannot be separated from the other and this will be demonstrated with this tale. 

When Brenda was first diagnosed with RA she felt her life was over in a sense. She was working full-time, single and 31 years old. Brenda was sole breadwinner even though her first rheumatologist suggested she go on disability and have her husband take care of her. We would like to know who this person is, because he has never shown up. BOL It goes to show that he did not even know Brenda. She flat out told him and this is where fortitude comes in folks. "I will work until I'm no longer able to do so." This June 2nd, will be Brenda's full-time anniversary of 33 years at her current place of employment. Take that RA! 

This does not mean this has been smooth sailing for Brenda. Probably not a great choice of words, because Brenda would not be able to go on a boat. Her motion issues have become so much worse since her brain surgery. She deals with vertigo at times; defined as benign positional vertigo or BPV, which was diagnosed during an ER visit in 2014. She has tried a balance clinic, but was unable to finish the exercises, because she became so sick. It took several days to get back to normal. She deals with it when she feels an attack coming on with anti-nausea medication and meclizine. Brenda dealt with a lot of inner ear problems when she was younger and that is why she wears a head covering when most of you think it is too warm to do so. She is protecting herself. She has not had an inner ear infection for years and would like to keep it that way. 

Her sense of direction is much worse since her brain surgery. Brenda can become disoriented so easily, especially if she is experiencing any kind of balance issue. It's scary and traveling alone or any distance period, is no longer an option. It's heartbreaking to admit, but safety has to come first. 

Brenda deals with a lot of pain and that is where fortitude also comes in. She has actually said that you get used to it. After living with it for so many years, that might be true. Again, it's not easy, but Brenda never gave up HOPE, that she would find something to help cope with it all. In 2001 she was offered what she calls a gift, being able to try a new class of medication. Brenda had done her research as she does with anything that is new or foreign to her. She has now been taking a biologic for 20 years, which was truly a life changer. Keep reading, we are now going to enter her next life changing event...

In 2008, Brenda faced another challenge. We might mention that she was not actually told that she had a brain tumor, just as she was not actually told that she had RA. True story!

It was referred to as a lesion, mass or meningioma. No one ever used the word brain tumor. Imagine her confusion, because it didn't happen to invade her brain. So what, she still had to go through a craniotomy to have it removed. It was removed entirely along with the tail, which is a striking characteristic of a meningioma brain tumor. I will refer to it as such. It was located in the right frontal lobe. This can cause Brenda to become angry or brought to tears more easily. This is no fault of her own. It's considered an acquired brain injury or trauma that occurs, as a result of having a craniotomy. It's a big deal folks! It involved having a part of her skull called the bone flap drilled open. The neurosurgeon used a Midas drill. If you know anything about your fairy tales, remember King Midas? That is where all the gold comes in and I'm all a part of that. After all, I'm a golden retriever and Brenda believes that during that 90 minute procedure, that they found gold. This is all figurative, but the truth is folks, Brenda's creative juices were starting to fire up, but that would not be revealed until almost a year after this procedure.

Brenda had a difficult first year of being a brain tumor survivor. She eventually was shown that she actually did have a brain tumor. It happened on a piece of paper from her neurosurgeon. Brenda asked for one of her work restrictions to be extended. He felt she knew best what she could handle. She appreciated that so much, but here is where the kicker comes in. Why does this sound so familiar? Oh yes, she shared this story with her friend Rick Franzo, while being a guest on his internet radio program; Brain Tumor Talk: Worldwide Radio Show. I digress. She continued, it said on the piece of paper; had a brain tumor, he did not use the word meningioma, it was right there, had a brain tumor. The light went on. 

Not only did the light go on with that situation, but eventually it became brighter for another one, living with RA. Brenda was taking risks and sharing about her experiences, both living with RA and living the life of a brain tumor survivor. She started a blog in 2009 and added me as her storyteller in 2011, around the time that her mother became ill. 

In 2012, she took a risk something Brenda would never have done before her brain tumor experience. Brenda is shy by nature and an introvert. so this was a foreign concept for her. She saw a chance to possibly become involved with a project entailing dealing with RA in the workplace. She went for it and has never looked back. Most of our readers know what happened. Brenda became a true advocate, not only for arthritis but now brain tumors and brain cancer. 

Brenda participated in her first Head to the Hill with the National Brain Tumor Society. It was a virtual event this year, so with a little coaxing Brenda decided to sign up. She had again with the National Brain Tumor Society's assistance, contacted the governor's office requesting he declare May 2021 Brain Tumor Awareness Month in North Dakota with a proclamation. Brenda's place of employment shared this news on their intranet page, where they have weekly updates yesterday. She is making a difference. 

None of this could have been accomplished without Brenda's fortitude. She is also stubborn, which is one her greatest qualities in my doggy book. Brenda works at something until she gets it. Only now, it's a little more difficult to comprehend. Brenda does things her own way and that may seem strange to you. She doesn't care. She gets it done and accomplished and that is all that matters in the end. 

Brenda does a great deal of her advocating behind a keyboard. One of the great things that has happened during this pandemic is that more events have become virtual. That is a terrific aspect in Brenda's opinion. She feels like she can still participate, even if traveling to an event is no longer an option. It isn't! Brenda has given up a lot but has gained as much, by allowing her creative juices to continue flowing. She is growing and feels blessed, even on these 2 separate journeys, which cannot be separated in her mind. 

We leave you with her holding the proclamation. 

This has been another T Man Production. ~T Man Barking off~ 

May 2021 Brain Tumor Awareness Month in North Dakota