Lib even got a new hat in case her hair falls out.
I’m a peaceable woman. I abhor violence and am filled with the milk of human kindness. Yet, at this moment I am looking forward with all my being to witnessing an epic takedown; a beating so brutal it will be deemed a total annihilation.
My sister Lib is taking on her MAB.
Right around St. Patrick’s Day, Lib had a mini-seizure and tests revealed there was something on her brain.
We dubbed it the Mysterious Abnormal Blob (MAB) because the doctors couldn’t tell what it was. Virus? Stroke? It didn’t look like anything they had seen. They exhausted all the external diagnostics before they went in for a biopsy. Unfortunately, the biopsy revealed cancer. It’s something called an oligodendroglioma. An old friend of the family.
If you want more background, check out previous posts under the category “Hospital Stories” in the right margin of this blog.
Lib has had no symptoms all this time, due in part to the anti-seizure drugs she’s on. She’s living her life, going to work and taking care of business. Nothing has changed, except she isn’t allowed to drive.
The first months were full of tests, doctor appointments, getting second opinions to try to nail down the tumor grade. Since then, there has been a frustrating amount of nothing going on.
I know I’m not alone in having found this time in limbo very surreal. I’ve even forgotten about her MAB for days at a time. Lib said when she walked in to the hospital for an MRI last night and noted all the hustle and bustle; it was a bit of a shock to realize she was a part of that. That SHE was the patient.
Finally, something is going to happen.
The MRI results came in this morning. Four months since the MAB first arrived on the scene, and no change. It has not grown. YES! Fist pump and Whoop! Whoop!
Lib is rested, refreshed and pumped up. It’s time to get rid of the damn thing. Let the MAB SmackDown begin!
The first option with brain tumors is usually operating. Hers isn’t in a great place for that. Her doctors think the best bet is chemo, and she starts next week. She’ll do oral chemo for a year. The average patient handles the drug pretty well, without hair loss and with minimal side affects. Although Lib is usually above average in all things, this is one time we’re hoping she can stifle the over-achiever tendencies and just go for the average. She does have gorgeous, big, blue eyes, though, so she could make bald look good.
Of course, my main concern is how this affects the family weight loss challenge. I can’t help but feel that someone going through chemo has an unfair advantage, given the tendency to hurl. She will be taking anti-nausea drugs, and I hope they are effective. Otherwise, I may need to consult with the diet judges on this issue.
I’m not a big gambler, because I’m pretty cheap. But I’m going with the Vegas odds-makers on this one; in the epic MAB SmackDown, I’m putting all my money on my little sister, Lib.
Peg-o-Leg's Ramblings 
Wow, I can’t believe you worked the family weight loss efforts into this. Baaaaad joke 😛
Was wondering how this was going…so glad to hear there’s been no change. Best wishes to your tough sis. May she come out triumphant.
I love picturing you putting these images in Paint and altering them. Makes me giggle every time.
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Jackie, remember there’s cash money riding on that weight loss challenge.
Thanks for the good thoughts!
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I thought the family weight loss challenge was exactly the ha-ha this post needed! Of course, I’m a horrible person, so that’s not saying much. I can tell what love you have for your sister and I hope she knows how strongly we’ll be cheering her on from the blogosphere. Side note: I do think you should purchase a Mexican wrestling mask… you know, as a fashionable display of support.
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Was it insensitive to mention the challenge? I’m never sure of these things. Any idea where one would purchase such a mask? Of course I want to be supportive.
Thanks for the bloggy cheers!
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“Cancer, not funny. Dead puppies, not funny…. ” 🙂
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Always starts an attack of the giggles.
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Hoping and praying for total annihilation.
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TKO, baby, that’s what we want. Thanks for the encouragement!
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With an outfit like that, victory is a sure thing!
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Yeah, she’ll scare the cancer away!
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I actually purchased such a mask on the street in the town of Tulum, Mexico, which would be a great little recovery getaway for Lib. Sending all good healing juju in her direction. And the levity of the weight loss reference was perfect. Especially with things like this, life is too short not to giggle.
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That’s a great idea! I already told her when she gets done with this nonsense we’ll go back to Ireland. We went 2 years ago, which is what started me blogging just as a way to tell our family about our trip. Maybe somewhere warm where they wear cool headgear would be even better.
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Cheers and prayers from Ontario for Lib! Keep up the great HO or..it is a valuable medication!!
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I hope you meant “humor”, Chris, instead of “ho”. That’s not a very nice thing to call my sister 🙂
Thanks for the prayers – we’ll take as many as we can get.
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Prayers for Lib coming from Maine! I have been impressed with the close bond evident in your writings about the weight loss challenge ~ that and your wonderful sense of humor will help Lib come through this year of chemo. I’m betting on the family and blog-o-sphere mob to crush that nasty MAB!!
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Thanks for the prayers, Carol. Maine is God’s country, right? so they’re sure to be heard.
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Front what I have been told…Aunt Libby is quite the woman. I am sure she is going to come out of this stronger than ever. Thoughts also coming from Muskie!
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Thanks a lot, Stacy. I really appreciate the kind thoughts.
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No problem. I frequent the blog quite frequently (unlike your dear daughter these days…) since she is such a busy business woman….I just now mustered up the courage to post a reply as I was touched by the story. We have all been affected with things like this in our families. Biz informed me that a “strong back” was needed on Monday, and I informed her quickly that I am not into manual labor, but would be happy to hire someone to help William get the couch into the new apartment. She quickly just laughed at me. Guess that is a “no.”
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So is “not so strong-back” a childhood nickname, or something you acquired recently? I told Liz to stress how much we wanted to meet you, not how much we wanted you to lift heavy things – she blew it!
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Good for Lib! It’s so hard to watch a sister suffer; I can understand your hopes and your worries. But my money’s on the smackdown! And go ahead- make jokes. Laughter is, after all, the best medicine!
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Laughter is good medicine, but her oncologist thinks Temodar would be the best medicine in this case.
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Good Luck, Libby! Stay strong and bask in the love and support of your family and friends.
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Thanks for the good wishes, Jane. I’ll keep you posted on her progress.
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Like it, Peg. Lib is going to SMACK down this MAB!!! And, guess what? She lost 8lbs since her Dr appt. one month ago She was pleasantly surprised. She didn’t even know she was losing.
Hope she doesn’t have the big time hurling … that would be unpleasant. However, if the Px anti-nausea drugs don’t work, there are other remedies ….
Three cheers for Lib!!! Love ya, sis
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Wow – 8 pounds. Good for her! But I don’t think the Brain Tumor Diet is going to be quite as big as Atkins.
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Peg. 1st of all this is great news that the MAB has not grown! Three cheers!
Your thoughts are tres interesting to read! Love how you compare Libby to a wrestler- I’m smelling a fundraiser in this. I think there needs to be a real wrestling match. Someone on the little side can be the MAB wrestler and everyone pummels her in a wrestling ring. (it’s all badly choreographed, of course- so no one actually gets hurt) Everyone gets her own wrestling costume/mask and everything! OMG sell some tickets and make some money for cancer research off this crazy idea of yours!
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That’s a great idea, Louise! You’ll be in charge of the music.
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Let the smack down begin! Glad to hear that the tumor hasn’t grown and that Lib has a course of action!
Still praying over here!
-Cheryl
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I know Lib has really appreciated the love and support of your group, Cheryl. Thank you.
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I’ll bet your sister appreciates the gallows humor more than anyone else. Please wish her the best from Big Al. Before you know it she’ll have a microphone shoved in her face so she can hold up the championship belt and bad-mouth her opponent.
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Thanks Al. Looking forward to some epic MAB body slams.
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So funny to read your latest blog, Peg!! Always great to read about me… makes for a bigger head than I already have!!! 🙂 Though I have to say I am not as beefed up and harry as the picture would imply… Many thanks to all for the many prayers. I now it’s my family and friend’s support that is making a huge difference, but I must give the praise to the Lord, who has heard us and is smacking down the MAB!!! 🙂 Love ya, sissy!
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I thought that was a pretty good likeness.
Good luck knocking down that cold before you take on the MAB. Think of it as a warm-up match. Love you sweetie.
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Three cheers for modern technology and improved cancer treatments. Biscuits ( or as you call them cookies ) are really good to help stop nausea, so just ensure her cupboards are well stocked 🙂
Crossed fingers and all that for the successful annihilation of MAB.
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I find biscuits (or cookies) are good for just about anything, except maybe weight loss. Thanks for the good thoughts.
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You had to get the weight challenge in there, didn’t you. I burst out laughing and almost lost my coffee! I want that bad cold that you guys lost so much weight on. Seriously, Lib’s news was so uplifting I almost burst out crying at the cancer clinic. Silly me, I was not thinking of the weight challenge at the time. I’m glad you brought this up, maybe in the heat of the challenge we could ask Lib to hold off the chemo until the first of Oct. so she doesn’t have an unfair advantage!Great writing and thanks for always being there to sound out and find the right questions! LOVE YOU.
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MK (aka Dr. Olga), you’ve been a rock, driving Lib all over the state and being an extra pair of ears with the doctors. Especially valuable since you’re the only one in our family who listens more than they talk. Love you more!
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All my best to your sister in her fight against the MAB! My sister had a brain tumor a few years ago. It was the right kind and in the right place to be removed. Was very scary at the time, but now she is doing great. And the titanium plate in her head is a great conversation starter!
And I love that you mention her unfair advantage in your family weight loss challenge! I am positive that a sense of humor is better than most drugs out there.
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Thanks for the good thoughts, Amy. It’s encouraging to hear that your sister smacked her tumor down. I bet you’ve tried every possible Tin Woodsman joke out on her by now.
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Laughter a great healer and a wonderful gift. Strength to you all.
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Thank you for the kind thoughts.
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Never let a little cancer get in the way of a little family competition. For crying out loud, they had nine kids fighting for attention!!!! Anyway, with modern medicine, unfortunately, I’m betting Lib is going to feel jim dandy on the chemo and will not have an unfair weight loss advantage:). She may however be burning more calories fighting her biggest challenger yet, so you gals better grab a treadmill!!! 🙂
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Thanks for giving us the benefit of all your (unfortunately) hard-learned experience, Moe. Cancer is just another little hill to climb, right?
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RE: my feeling jim dandy… from your mouth to my bod’s ears, Moe!! (Does that make sense??) Sorry you’ve experienced the cruddy end of chemo – hoping that’s not the case for me! (Start tomorrow night, so we’ll see…)
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Good luck, sweetie. Maybe for you, chemo will act like a very mild appetite suppressant, allowing you to shoot past me in the weight loss challenge with no effort, yet not leave you feeling yucky and unable to eat anything.
We’ll miss you at that thing you-know-where and when, for you-know-who (mum’s the word on that, on the off-chance CERTAIN PEOPLE read my blog)
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Aw.. I hope everything turns out great for Lib and the rest of you and keep up the good work with the Diet War! 🙂
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She just finished her first bout of chemo, and everything ran smoothly. We’re keeping good thoughts.
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