Brain cancer is...

 ...100 lessons...learned together.

Welcome to the 100th post in this blog! Above is the picture from our very first post, it's the day before we headed down the mountain to the ER.  In celebration of 100 posts, Darrell and Andi reflect on the lessons learned thus far in the adventure we call brain cancer.  But wait!  All of Team D appreciates the Life 2.0 lesson:  Reflect. First come the lessons from Team D members, then lessons from D & A.  Thank you for all we have learned with you! 

(Note to the Members:  We did it!  Darrell was surprised and touched.  And he's ready for the next 100 posts.)

Lessons from Team D Members with Lists

(Bullets?  Not numbers?  Formatting is tough in Blogger.)

Lessons from Anonymous

• I need to be more patient with strangers, because I don't know what they're going through.
• When someone I care so much about is going through such a rough ordeal, all of life's regular daily challenges suddenly don't seem so challenging.
• It's okay to still be happy and find the joy in each day.
• I really love my brother.

Lessons from Zachary Guillaume

• Talking about it always helps.
• Consistently re-evaluate what you attach meaning to in life.
• Have hobbies are are just for you.  You’ll be a better “you” for everyone else.
• If it seems too big to handle, make many lists.
• Everyone responds to things in very different ways; be cool with it.

 Lessons from Linda Guillaume

• Love is powerful.
• Spread joy wherever you go.
• Pray for strength and pray to help others be empowered with strength.
• The meaning of life is...To help each other through it.
• Love on people, more. 

Lessons from Tiana and Alex Guillaume

• Brain cancer is learning to slow down and appreciate the people and moments in your life each day.
• Brain cancer is marveling at the limitless love and support we have received from so many wonderful people. 
  

Lessons from Alex Guillaume

• Brain cancer is all about admiring the ceaseless strength and courage of my hero.
• Brain cancer is learning to slow down and appreciate the people and moments in life each day.
• Brain cancer is marveling at the limitless love and support we have received from so many wonderful people.
• Brain cancer is bullshit.
• Brain cancer is getting to wear sweet James Bond headgear that keeps the CIA from reading your thoughts.
• Brain cancer is cherishing simple laughs and grand vacations alike.
• Brain cancer is a nightmare you can't wake up from.
• Brain cancer is a reminder that the most important aspects of life are the people who fill it.
• Brain cancer is the darkest time in our lives, but it has been made brighter by all those who have shared their light.
• Brain cancer is no match for my Dad.

Lessons from Tiana Guillaume

• Brain cancer is visiting and calling family members every chance I get.
• Brain cancer is experiencing medicine from the patient’s side.
• Brain cancer is learning everything I can about bedside manner during my gynecologic oncology and breast cancer rotations so I can emotionally support my patients and their families the best I can.
• Brain cancer is putting everything in life in perspective.
• Brain cancer is suppressing the sadness and studying every moment so that we can come home.

Lessons from Team D Members with Individual Lessons

• One thing I've learned from Team D...Don't wait for tomorrow to appreciate what you have today.  --Melanie Munns

• Brain cancer…sucks! But an opportunity for grace.  Darrell rocks grace with a quirky edge.  –Meridyth Munns

•  Brain cancer is…cataclysmic.  –Matt Heniges.

• Brain cancer is…Impersonating a childhood hero…

...With this new phase of Optune brings yet another opportunity.  Who knew growing up in Glendora driving around pulling capers like tossing TP on trees or bushes, jumping in our cars before being caught, or playing a song with our ad-hoc pep band at houses late at night all the while humming the Mission Impossible Theme song.  Now Mr. Hunky gets to look like our hero Mr. Phelps where the outcome of every mission was successful. Lite the fuse, sit back, close your eyes and imagine the possibilities …  --Curt Welshon

•  Brain cancer is the chance to rekindle loving relationships with old friends. --Gwen and Steve Rudney

•   Brain cancer is...

… an opportunity to ponder the deeper purposes of a loving God--Ginger Geftakys

• Brain cancer is…watching the Guillaumes tackle each hurdle with tenacity, courage, and grace!  --Denise Victoria

•  Brain cancer is...a time for inclusiveness.  A time to gather everyone who matters to you close together; to enjoy their company and be thankful for all the shared good times, past and present. --Beth and Geoff  Szabo

•  Brain cancer is a reason to remember . . .

houseboat trips, commemorative alphabet books, Hawaiian adventures, soccer dinners and referee sign ups, PokeMOMs, gifts of time and expertise in front of our computers, commencement chauffeuring, investment strategy discussions, Siegfried and Roy, and so much more. Great times to celebrate, with plans for many, many more. –Hallie Yopp Slowik and Ruth Yopp-Edwards

• Brain cancer is… a reminder to be kinder and more appreciative of my family.  I embrace your adventures and remind myself that I should be doing the same!  --Kristine Quinn

•  Brain cancer is...

…an invitation to contemplate eternity.  --Ginger Geftakys

D and A Lessons

• No one expects a GBM diagnosis.
• There are so many unexpected ways that the human body can go “wrong,” and it’s often unexpected when it does. 
• There are whole worlds we personally will never know for people with different ailments and afflictions.
• Virtually everyone seems to be touched by cancer.
• No one escapes pain or loss.
• Everyone’s pain is important.
• Nothing is permanent.
• If you’re going to have brain cancer, the US is a good place to have it. 
• Clinical trials are available to only a small percentage of patients, even if they are eager to participate.
• There are no magic cures. 
• The treatment of cancers like GBM is entering a really important time, given advances in our knowledge of genetics.  There’s an amazingly bright future ahead.
• If you’re a player in the GBM game, you play to win.
• Our response to cancer brought a huge range of emotions, including ones we didn’t know existed.
• We’ve learned to check our emotional states and be mindful and honest about them.
• We’ve learned that GBM has brought huge emotional swings, and that we are sometimes out of sync in our swings. (It’s a big fat baby.)
• We’ve learned not to judge or offer advice to others about their emotions.
• Dealing with something as big as brain cancer takes up so much cognitive processing power…all the time.  (Things that used to be easy are difficult.)
• It can take a while to accept for oneself what is clear to others (e.g. work).
• We’ve learned that sometimes we need to practice things that were natural before.
• Brain cancer is not the only thing going on in life.  Everyone has things going on.
• GBM has made us appreciate the past even more (not mourn the future).
• Life is simultaneous, not sequential (all the things…all at the same time).
• Someone always has it worse.
• You can’t be “cheated out of” something that wasn’t yours to begin with.
•   “Fair” doesn’t mean “It shouldn’t happen to me.”  It means “It could happen to anyone.”
• Happiness isn’t something that comes your way; it’s something you choose, or that you build.
• It’s okay to ask for help.
• Everyone needs a team.
• Having a team where members have different perspectives is helpful.
• It’s been amazing to us that, just when we’re feeling low, people step up…without even knowing they were needed.
• Praying for a miracle isn’t a plan, but we sure appreciate when we do the planning, and Team D does the miracle praying for us.
• We’ve appreciated all the kinds of spirituality that Team D members bring to his support.
• Strength really can come through adversity.
• The love in our world is apparently boundless.
• Family and friends come first.
• Relationships are everything.
• Priorities can change instantly.
• Lean into priorities.
• Get rid of the unimportant stuff.  Someone else needs it more.
• People who do their jobs well and with love are a gift to the rest of us.
• If you’re doing something that has no purpose or reward, consider stopping.
• It’s never too late for a do over.
• Hats are fun.
• Cherish every moment.
• Laugh every day.
• Gratitude is the only way to live.
• Travel now.
• Nature is incredibly healing.  We need to maximize our time there.

• Pain or a difficult situation helps us appreciate the beauty of the world many times over.
• People are connected to each other…and across time…in surprising and delightful ways.
• Make your own rules:  Create new family traditions (like Chip Offs).  Re-fashion existing holidays.
• Life is better when Darrell says yes.
• Life really is too short to drink cheap wine.
• It’s also too short to avoid pancakes.
• Go big. Upgrade.  Add a buck to the tip.
• Life is an adventure. 
• Keep making “firsts.”