A Tale of Interruptions...
Hello my fellow readers, it's Trevor or aka T Man once again, with our monthly tale. This time we are going to explore interruptions. This is something that Brenda experiences more than she would like. It can be during a conversation with someone, when another person decides to jump in and hijack it. This in all sincerity, makes Brenda angry. In the first place, she was having a nice conversation and probably forming her train of thought, which suddenly is gone, because of this intrusion. Yes, that is what it is, an intrusion.
Brenda has dealt with life experienced interruptions. It might be that you've never heard of these, but they are real and can be difficult to navigate at times. Remember back in the day when you would be watching your TV and all at once, an announcement would come on; "We are experiencing technical difficulties, PLEASE STAND BY!" It was usually during a storm or some other interruption. There was also this big photo that would appear right in the middle of your screen. Brenda tells me that only a select number of you will remember this. Something to do with age. BOL
Well, Brenda got the idea for this blog post because of that illustration. Brenda is a visual person and also being a brain tumor survivor, this has served her well. Let me walk you through her life experienced interruptions.
Her big one was back in 1991, when she was in her rheumatologist's office, the day she found out that she had rheumatoid arthritis. As some of you know, she was not actually told those words, her interruption of life began, when she was handed over 10 pamphlets. Brenda had her answer and life would never be the same again. It had been interrupted by a big life change. All Brenda could think about was, how was she going to live with this disease for the rest of her life? There are also good life interruptions. Remission, knocked on Brenda's door, not once, but twice. This means her RA has quieted down and her joints are the ones in remission. She still lives with RA and is aware of that. It was 30 years ago this past May, when she received that interruption. That's a long time to PLEASE STAND BY! Now, you get where we are going with this. BOL
Brenda's next big life interruption occurred on August 26, 2008 when she was diagnosed with a right frontal lobe meningioma. She didn't even realize at the time that it was an actual brain tumor. It was never referred to as one, so why would she think otherwise? It was called a lesion, mass or meningioma, which Brenda was told, was no larger than a walnut and could be watched. PLEASE STAND BY! I don't think so, she wanted this thing gone and yesterday. BOL
Brenda finally met her neurosurgeon on September 4, 2008 and they discussed at length this life interruption, which she was asked if she wanted it taken care of. Nothing would be conclusive until it was examined under a microscope. She was told it was probably benign, given that it was growing slowly and at least for 20 years. Brenda has grown to dislike that word BENIGN. She would prefer that you use the words nonmalignant or non-cancerous. It gives this interruption more respect. That is not asking too much.
On September 8, 2008, Brenda underwent a right frontal lobe craniotomy to remove this interruption once and for all. At least that is what Brenda thought would happen. She would never see that PLEASE STAND BY! illustration in her head ever again. More on that, as we continue...
The neurosurgeon was able to get it all along with the tail, which is very characteristic of a meningioma. They were able to get at it pretty easily, once they opened the bone flap. This interruption only lasted ninety minutes instead of the projected 2 hours. Her meningioma ended up being the size of a golf ball. Brenda was alert after and they even asked her some questions, which she was able to answer with flying colors. All was gold! BOL
About a month after the procedure another interruption came knocking on her door, or even more to illustrate, her head. Frontal lobe syndrome is considered an acquired brain injury, as a result of trauma from the craniotomy. Something got moved around in there and Brenda was never the same again. This interruption continues and Brenda is good with that. She deals with deep feelings, as we have explored in a previous blog post, several months ago. She can be brought to tears or strike out in anger more easily, when she sees someone being wronged and that includes herself. This life interruption has caused Brenda to possess empathy for others and even herself. After all, it's her life interruption, that she has been dealing with for almost 13 years.
Next Wednesday, September 8th, will be Brenda's 13th Craniversary or the anniversary of her craniotomy. She has celebrated this every year and will continue to, as this is a reminder that she made it through one of the biggest life interruptions of her life and is still going through it. PLEASE STAND BY!
This has been another T Man Production and we leave you with this illustration from the past...
~T Man barking off~
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| Source Unknown |
T-Man, you continue to blow me away. At first I thought you had set up a target and was aiming at me. WOW you had me scared, I was laying on the ground waiting for bows and arrows flying around. But then I though, dude T-Man is just fooling around. He does not even have fingers he cannot shoot you with a bow and arrow. Everyone knows he will send in the bark patrol to get you. Well anyway, Sheryl said get up no darn dog is coming to get you. I said hey T-Man is not just a dog. He types blogs. T-Man she was not impressed. psst.
ReplyDeleteWell so anyway great story. I also hate interruptions. T-Man have you ever been trying to pick up a girl and some other darn dog shows up and butts in? Yeah me either, that never happens to cool guys like us.
Anyway if It did what would you do? Of course we would get a bow and arrow chase em down. Or we would say hey we are so darn cool we don't care. Well that is what happens to Brenda right before she gets her bow and arrow.
Boy Rick, you had me ROTFL ~T Man~ Hey, thanks for the love man, we appreciate it. BOL
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