Tuesday, July 20, 2004

Promised update

My second cousin, the only great-granddaughter on my Mom's side of the family (as of now) has terminal brain cancer. She's only 16 years old.

The horrible thing about brain cancer unless it attaches to the spinal cord is it has no symptoms. Pressure from the tumor gave her headaches. The first doctor thought it was depression. When the double vision started, they did a CAT scan. That was last Wednesday. Friday, they called back for an immediate MRI. And then rushed her down to Children's Hopsital in New Orleans.

They have been able to reduce the swelling and are now talking about just doing a biopsy, hoping to treat it with chemo or radiation. I haven't seen the MRI films, but Mom said at one point fingers are going throughout her brain.

She is the sanest one in a dysfunctional family, meaning her immediate one. Mine's not too bad when push comes to shove. And you can't help who you're realted to. But she is the sanest, most mature of the bunch, and she's dying. To look at her you wouldn't think anything is wrong, except when the morphine kicks in.

She's only 16 years old.

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The BookWorm

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