Grandma Susie

This is the same picture that I drew half of. (My Grandma)

My definition of a hero is someone who is kind, someone who inspires you, someone who overcomes a struggle. Or, they could just be a lifesaver (literally). My Grandma Susie is a hero to me because she overcame a big struggle. She survived the worst case of a brain tumor and ended up with brain cancer. However, she has made an almost full recovery from all of her struggles. The first time that she found out about the cancer was right after Mother’s Day weekend. Even right after she found out that she had the worst case of a brain tumor, she kept a strong, positive attitude. I remember when we called her right after her surgery and asked her how she felt. Even though she probably didn’t feel all that great, she said, “I feel absolutely fantastic!” To me, that is the most positive attitude that anyone can ever have. This is what my grandma has to say about her story.

What keeps you motivated to keep doing things instead of staying home all the time?
• I think that it’s just having a positive attitude. I have gotten out and gone to a "Disney on Ice" show for Christmas and I went to a big surprise party. Another thing I do is walk a mile every day.

If thirty years ago, someone told you that you were going to get a brain tumor and then make a full recovery, would you believe them?
• I don’t think that I’d believe them because I wouldn’t think 30 years ago that it would be possible to make a full recovery. I’m also fortunate that most of the odds were favoring me. I am a woman, and that makes it easier to cure, and I’m only 61. I was also in good health before that.

This is my family whole family about 8 years ago. (My mom)

Was this struggle the hardest thing that you’ve ever had to overcome? If not, what was, and why was it the harder than having cancer?
• I think that having cancer was harder for the family than for me. I think it wasn’t that hard for me because I did well through almost everything. It’s also not the hardest thing because I did well, but I’ve never had any other tragedy.

Which part of the cancer treatment was the hardest: The surgery to remove the tumor, the MRIs, or the chemo and radiation, or something else?
• I think that having an allergic reaction to a medicine was probably the hardest or most painful thing. The anti-seizure medication the doctors gave me after the surgery made me break out with something like hives and I was itchy all over.

I drew half of this picture of my Grandma. (My mom)

Who is the person that helped you most through this rough time?
• I think that Michele (Carleigh's mom) and my husband have helped me tremendously because they have kept my spirits up and positive. They also kept me informed about the things that the doctors say and stuff.

Do you feel like your life or attitude or how you feel has changed a lot since being diagnosed with cancer?
• I think that my life has changed only slightly because I’m not working and have less to do. I don’t think that my attitude has changed because I’ve always been positive. How I feel hasn’t really changed, and I feel fine just going on with everyday life.

What would you like to be doing in a year?
• I really hope that things will be just like they were a year ago. I want to go back to work and driving, just like May of 2004

My hero, Grandma Susie has inspired me for many reasons. The first reason is that she is living proof that if you keep a positive attitude, you will be able to keep going. She also has shown me that you can do anything if you put your mind to it. I think that my grandma is a very good example of a hero because she has survived a big struggle, and she has inspired me in numerous ways.