Lift with your head: the other 90% of my brain
In the past I have viewed exercise as a chore. Repetitive weight lifting and mindless jogs on a treadmill were never my idea of fun. But I still have cancer in my brain–so I need to do something to feel like I am fighting back. I strongly believe in the power of advocacy as an important...
What are your post-brain surgery deficits?
Back in November I started exercising again. And then about two weeks ago I hired a personal trainer to get my body back in shape. Of course, I told her about my medical condition, weaknesses and medications I am taking. She’s suggesting a new diet and all that good stuff. I’m going to build muscle...
Continuing challenges
Woah! Now that I’m done with Temodar it seems like my cancer experience is over–but it’s not because I still have cancerous tumor in my brain. WTH! The weird thing (and all you brain tumor peeps know this) is that unless you have an extractable, hard tumor with defined borders, we will have brain tumors...
Our sixth sense: a lesson on proprioception
When I was reading My Stroke of Insight by Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor, she said no self-respecting neuro-scientist would allow a surgeon into their brain. I believe she was alluding to how important this organ is to our functioning and overall sense of self. After my first brain surgery I did not notice anything...
Photos: My brain as of May 21, 2009
Note to MRI newbies: Scans are always viewed as a mirror image; what appears on the left is really on the right, and vice-versa. See that empty spot in the left parietal lobe? That’s my brain hole. Actually, it’s more like a missing layer in my brain. Are you thinking what I think you’re thinking?...
Genius idea
Guess what I’m going to do? I’m going to borrow a keyboard and play piano for a few weeks. Piano was my first instrument and I can still read music, but I haven’t played piano in a long while (8-10 years). If I practice everyday I bet the fine motor skills in my right hand...
Notepad
Sometimes I use this space as a notepad when I find stuff explaining how I feel. Proprioception is tested by American police officers using the field sobriety test, wherein the subject is required to touch his or her nose with eyes closed. People with normal proprioception may make an error of no more than 20...
