My Unexpected Journey Blog - Page 2 of 6

Snowball Moon Book Signings!

This is a fun video trailer post! My new book, Snowball Moon is out – just in time for the holidays! If you are looking for a gift for a kiddo in the 0-6 age range, you can get a copy of Snowball Moon at Amazon or your favorite local Indie Store. Or, for a signed copy (and a fun visit!) please stop by one of my two upcoming book signings in Charlottesville – I would love to see you! Saturday, December 9th at 10:30 New Dominion Book Shop The Downtown Mall Hot Cocoa Served! Saturday, December 16th from […]

So, it’s been a long time

Nov 28, 201727 CommentsBrain Tumor, Fatigue, MRI, Scanxiety, UncategorizedBrain Cancer, MRI Results

I haven’t posted in awhile. I guess it’s because I’ve been out there “living my life.” This is a good thing. I’ve been to New York for vacation this summer, where I walked a slow five miles in the heat. And I’ve been to Arizona for a business trip with Marshall. And I just got back from Florida for Thanksgiving with my family. The business trip went well. New York and Florida were home exchanges, and both were really amazing! In between, I’ve been up and down energy-wise. Sometimes I feel pretty good. Other times I feel pretty tired. I’ve […]

I’ve Been Asked to Speak at the Indivisible Health Care Rally Tonight – Please Come!

Jul 18, 20172 CommentsUncategorized

I’m sorry I haven’t blogged for so long. My pretty decent excuse: I’ve been seriously considering running for Congress in 2018. Why? Because everyone seems to remember the woman with brain cancer who would lose her health insurance if any of the recent health insurance bills become law. I’d like to use my brain cancer (and my brain, too) to effect good in the world. Becoming a Member of Congress seemed like a good way of doing this. But I have decided not to run. More on why later, but for now let’s just say – it’s all about money. Still, I […]

Proposed Health Care Amendment Will Bankrupt Small Business Owners

May 3, 20171 CommentUncategorized

NY Times Article – The Rest of the Story My picture was in the New York Times yesterday as part of an article outlining the real world effects of the healthcare bill that is currently up for debate in the House of Representatives; the bill may go up for a vote today, Thursday, May 4th. Here’s the rest of the story that the Times didn’t report: I was diagnosed with brain cancer in January, 2016. Our family had (and still has) insurance through the Affordable Health Care Act (ACA), otherwise known as Obamacare. My husband, Marshall, is a solo attorney – […]

Reframing the Language of Cancer

May 2, 20172 CommentsBrain Tumor, Cancer Surgery, Language of Cancer, Uncategorized

I’ve been thinking for a long time about the language, labels, and metaphors that surround having brain – or any other kind of – cancer. In particular, I’ve been thinking about how I have consistently been told that I am fighting or battling cancer and that I am now a cancer survivor. Fighting. Battling. Surviving. Personally, I don’t identify with any of these words. Why? All of them are inherently violent, reminiscent of the war against cancer that I am supposed to be involved in. The problem with this is that I don’t want to live my remaining days engaged […]

Big 50!

Apr 20, 201718 CommentsUncategorizedAging and cancer, Birthday Presents for Cancer Patients, Birthday Wishes for People with Cancer, Birthdays and cancer, Brain Cancer, brain cancer birthday, cancer as healing, Cancer Milestones, Children's Author Brain Cancer, Fran Cannon Slayton, Turning 50 with cancer

Having brain cancer has had a wonderful way of changing my perspective on just about everything, including turning 50 today. When I turned 30 I was sad to be getting older. Today, I have no wish to be young again. I harbor little nostalgia for years gone by. I have only immense gratitude for this day, for the privilege of turning 50, for being alive. I am very, very happy to be 50. Bring it on, y’all!

Epilepsy?

Feb 23, 201714 CommentsBrain Tumor, Cancer Milestones, Epilepsy, Keppra, MRI, Oncologist Visits, Seizures and Brain Tumors, Side Effects of Medications, UncategorizedCancer Milestones, Children's Author Brain Cancer, epilepsy, Fran Cannon Slayton, Keppra, MRI, oligodendroglioma, Scanxiety, Seizures and Brain Tumors, Side Effects of Steroids, Snowball Moon Author

Two weeks ago, a neurologist – an epilepsy specialist – told me she thinks I have epilepsy. I have to admit, it was a pretty stunning thing to hear. After all, I’ve never lost consciousness due to a seizure, and I have had only one real event that I’d even classify as seizure-like – and that was the night that landed me in the hospital when I was diagnosed with brain cancer. It would be easy to try to dismiss what the epilepsy doctor told me – after all, the whole reason I went to see her in the first […]

My First Picture Book! Snowball Moon Coming September 2017!

Feb 3, 20178 CommentsBrain Tumor, Children's Books, FatigueChildren's Author Brain Cancer, Fran Cannon Slayton, Snowball Moon

Well, I’ve been sitting on this very exciting news for quite a while. I’m not sure why I have waited to spill the beans. Normally, I would be the first to tell the world about me having a new book coming out. Especially since it’s a picture book, a market I’ve been trying to break into for many years. Snowball Moon was acquired by Little Bee Books this past summer, and I’ve been “allowed” to tell about it for a number of months now. I guess keeping the news to myself reflects how deeply tired I’ve been over the last […]

I Am Flu Slayer. Hear Me Roar!

Feb 3, 2017Cancer Milestones, Infection, UncategorizedCancer and Flu, Flu, Immune System and Cancer

Let’s recite it together: “Please, friend, kick me when I’m down.” As if having brain cancer and secondary adrenal insufficiency isn’t enough, I go and get the flu. I haven’t had the flu in years. But it decided to show up last weekend, disguised at first as a head cold. A few days later, the fever, chills, and aches came on. I thought I was really in for it – people die of the flu, you know. And these days I have a ton of trouble just trying to get rid of the sniffles. I was worried about what I […]

Abbey Normal

Jan 20, 201712 CommentsFatigue, Hospital Visits, Infection, Keppra, Oncologist Visits, Seizures and Brain Tumors, Side Effects of Medications, Uncategorized, UTIAbnormal EEG, EEG, Keppra, Sleep-deprived EEG

They told me that my last EEG was slightly off. My first response to this news was, frankly, to be a bit offended. What do you mean my brain is “slightly off”? How judgmental of you, Medical Establishment. You’re not exactly the epitome of normality either, I want you to know. Actually, “slightly off” wasn’t the technical phrase they used. The technical phrase was something to the effect that I had a couple “spike and slow curve” weirdnesses (“weirdnesses” is the technical term) on my EEG reading. This could be a sign of seizure activity in my brain. Or it […]