I LIKE TO SWALLOW Ever had an MRI? God they’re fun. They stuff you in a narrow white tube like ground lamb in pig intestines. You are a high-tech human sausage. You must lie perfectly still while the machine photographs whichever organ is giving you fits. It bangs and...
CAN YOU PLEASE SPEAK UP?! That was the irritated request we received at the Jack in the Box drive-through when Saul tried to order two chicken meals and a cheeseburger with his alien accent. “What? I’m sorry. I don’t understand you. Can you …...
THIS IS SPINAL TAP Today’s excitement included more blood tests, a catscan and a (wait for it, wait for it) a lumbar puncture. Jealous much? Actually, it was no bigs. They put me in the fetal position and drained some spinal fluid out of my spine to see if...
Ray of Hope Enter Sheldon Z. Goldberg. He is an oncologist. He is from Brooklyn. His glasses are smudgy and his pale blue eyes dart up toward the ceiling when he talks. He’s confused by my little friend in my brain. But everyone is. And I like him. I paraphrase,...
Deirdre Timmons
An accomplished writer and filmmaker, Deirdre Timmons is a native Northwesterner who leads a busy life between working and spending time with her family. In the spring of 2013, Deirdre was caring for her mother with Alzheimer’s in addition to her normal routine. So when she began feeling tired and forgetful, she chalked it up to her busy schedule, age, and possible early symptoms of Alzheimer’s. It wasn’t long after that she began experiencing regular dizziness, lack of concentration, unexplained weight loss, and extensive bruising. This combination of symptoms seemed odd, so Deirdre sought the advice of her doctor and subsequently began physical therapy for dizziness. When the symptoms worsened, she pursued further investigation.
After MRIs, x-rays, blood tests, a CAT scan, and a brain biopsy, her brain surgeon diagnosed Deirdre with a malignant medulloblastoma brain tumor. Her prognosis: one month to live. That was five years ago.
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