My brain: 16 months after Temodar

Surviving
Written By Liz Salmi

What's the status from my latest brain MRI? No growth!

Also, my new neuro-oncologist is proud I've started exercising.

He mumbled something about exercise helping build a stronger immune system and remarked, "You've lost six pounds since you were last here."

What-what?! Say that again? Really?

PHOTO: Obligatory pre-doctor selfie

PHOTO: Obligatory pre-doctor selfie

And oh yeah, a stronger immune system is also good.

In other news, I found out my neurosurgeon retired. That kinda bummed me out.

Now that he is no longer practicing I will mention his name and give him a shout out.

Dr. Aloysius Llaguno:

Thank you for answering all my silly questions and tagging my head with a sharpie marker in pre-op. Thank for you for the nine hours you spent in my head during surgery #1, and the four hours you were in my head during surgery #2. Thank you for being a badass. Thank you for saving my life.

Hallmark is seriously missing out on the "thank you for saving my life" card genre.

Liz Salmi

Liz Salmi is Communications & Patient Initiatives Director for OpenNotes at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. Over the last 15 years Liz has been: a research subject; an advisor in patient stakeholder groups; a leader in “patient engagement” research initiatives; and an innovator, educator and investigator in national educational and research projects. Today her work focuses on involving patients and care partners in the co-design of research and research dissemination. It is rumored Liz was the drummer in a punk rock band.

https://thelizarmy.com
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