Post-operative recovery

Good Evening all!

Well, I've been trying to lay low the past few days to catch up on much needed rest. Today marks one week since surgery and my recovery is already two times faster than the last round. Cognitively I don't feel that I've lost anything and speech did not pick me up as a discipline, so that validates that belief. I woke up from surgery feeling like I had just taken a very long and restful nap. I was fully alert and oriented before we made it into the PACU for recovery. My left hand is still regaining some dexterity as typing with both hands is mildly challenging, but I am beginning to be able to tell where my proprioception is on my left side and so I can type with both hands again even if it is slow. I have definitely atrophied on my left side and it will take a few months to regain my full strength, balance and muscle mass, but thankfully I know a good PT while I wait on my orders to be processed through the hospital system.

Today is a day where I am reflecting on a few things that have come about with this new tumor. Prior to this surgery, I was angry and mean and short tempered. That anger has gone with the removal of the tumor, but the damage it did remains and will likely be permanent. As is the case with these things, I lost some more friends (and one who I considered very near and dear to me and that, generally speaking, I got along with on most things even if we didn't always see eye to eye (I was the "by the book individual and this other person was the laid back care free type). I have always been a prodder, I've even gone so far as to be perceived as a bully a time or two. I have always been the "poke the bull" and "suck it up" type individual if you will; but it was amplified two fold with this new tumor. I was short, uncouth, and flat out mean to people close to me. I knew it, and some days I could control it, but most of the time, it just came out of nowhere and steam rolled me into a level of rage I've never experienced before. I hated this me because I harbored hate in my heart for the first time ever and while I am extremely and deeply passionate about things, I've never felt hate to that degree before. That being said, I made some disrespectful comments to this individual and it was enough for this person to decide they didn't want to tolerate it anymore. I don't blame them, I probably would have done the same if I were in their shoes so I can only accept responsibility for my actions and work to learn from them. I am extremely apologetic to anyone who felt personally victimized by me during the past 6 months. I can't change the past, but I can start fresh. It's my only option. This illness has taken so many friends from me, many of who were just exhausted from the emotional rollercoaster that ensued regularly or just didn't know me well enough to know how to support me. I don't fault them, I empathize with them. There is only so much you can put up with before the exhaustion becomes overwhelming and you have to remove the toxicity from your life (I understand that more than anything). Its somewhat curious to see both sides of the issue. In a sense, it gives you an understanding that might not otherwise be achieved, but it also makes it hard because you can't explain things to those who have only experienced one side of the equation.

In the end, the ones who truly care will see you through thick and thin without question and with unwavering love and compassion (even when you don't deserve it). Those are the people I want by my side to cheer me on during the days when I can't be my own cheerleader.

To my representatives in Congress

As I prepare for surgery number 2 in the coming weeks, I feel compelled to share the letter I wrote to Colorado Senator Cory Gardner in regards, to my current concerns with the attempt to repeal the ACA. Enjoy and feel free to share. They need to hear our stories and hear us, we the people!

Senator Gardner,

I hope you have had an excellent week. Unfortunately, this letter is taking twice as long to write due to the fact that I have just learned yesterday that I have a fluid filled cyst on my brain that due to new tumor growth is now putting pressure on my motor cortex causing weakness on my left side. I now have to use a cane to walk as a result of weakness, can only type with one hand and am preparing for my second brain surgery. I am 32 years old. As you are aware based on my past letters, I was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2014. Thankfully, all this can be remedied with surgery, but the new tumor is more aggressive than the last and there is the possibility of having to have to do chemo again. On top of that, I will likely have a long and challenging recovery involving PT, speech and OT for several months, maybe in an inpatient rehab setting. The cost of all of this is sure to be incredible and I will likely end up paying a significant amount to cover costs. The good news is that this surgery will be covered under the provisions of the ACA, but if the tumor comes back in a year or two, who knows.

I am concerned with the recent release of the GOP proposal for the replacement plan on the ACA, as it looks to benefit the young, the wealthy and the insurers but not the elderly, the sick or the poor. I am young, but I am sick and if this bill is allowed to pass I will likely not be able to afford coverage under my husbands employer plan.  You see, I am now on disability as a result of my deteriorating situation. I want to go back to work in the future because surviving on my husband’s income and my meager disability check is not enough to pay the bills forever. As I’m sure you are aware, this bill does away with large companies being required to provide their employees with coverage. This is unethical and a corrupt business practice that puts corporations over people. That means, when the next tumor pops up in the coming years, ‘I will not be able to afford the life saving surgery I need to live. I very much want to work to help ensure my fellow Coloradans do not face the potential for loss of coverage and this bill will kick millions off their plans. I would love to meet with you and share my concerns and my story. You have the opportunity to be the new face of the Republican Party by listening to your constituents concerns and improving the livelihood of all Coloradans.

Cordially,

Your constituent in 80226

Laura Davies, PT, DPT, COMT

In the moment

Goodness,

I'm not even sure where to start. So much has happened over the past month, that I'm not sure how to put it into words for this blog. I am still working on my regimen with cannabis oil, but it has turned out to be more challenging than I may have anticipated. The goal for me is to work up to a gram of oil a day, but I have been delayed due to the Department of Health and Environment is delayed on processing applications for red cards (my mmj card). As of this date, I still have not received my red card, so I have not been able to purchase flower from my local dispensary as originally planned to make my own oil. I am hoping that my card comes in the mail this next week so I can start my process of creating my own oil. Currently I am utilizing a high THC strain that is like 60-80% THC (before weed was legal, THC concentrations were 6%, so you can imagine how a tiny bit of my oil will create an overly intense high. I have been supplementing with a high CBD product to help kick the high, but I need to just utilize a high CBD strain to make my own oil. The goal is to consume 60 grams of oil and get as close to 1 gram a day as possible.

Last month, I had the opportunity to participate in my first march for unity and in support of women's rights. It was one for the history books, with over 3 million people participating in marches world wide. We had around 200,000 here in Denver marching together. I am so excited about the opportunity to go down in history as being someone who participated in helping shape the future of out country. There is a saying that I have heard being passed around lately. It states, "Whenever you look back on history and think 'If I was alive then....' well, whatever you are doing now, is what you would have been doing then. I am excited to think I am on the frontline of justice, standing up for those who are unable to stand on their own. Nothing gives me more hope than joining 200,000 peaceful protesters who are walking the streets of our city crying, "We will NOT be silent". The one thing I can say is that it took the election of Donald Trump to bring about unity within our country. 1 in 100 people marched that day across the country.

This morning, I went to the bus stop to head downtown for a protect our muslim neighbors rally. As I was standing on the train platform I encountered a young African American Male who was smiling and watching the people who were headed to the rally. We got to talking and I learned that he was a practicing muslim that had immigrated to the United States over 6 years ago from Africa. He and I talked about the current political climate and right before we were about to board the train, he thanked me for being an ally to him and all muslims who are feeling persecuted in this country. He is currently enrolled in college in the Denver area and I was able to see first hand how immigrants make this country great (after all, this is a country founded by immigrants). I overheard someone say "progress is not a straight line, and that backlash like what we are seeing now comes when progress is swift. There would be no president Trump without President Obama. Well, stay tuned on my progress with the cannabis oil.

Colorful Colorado

Hello everyone!

I have so much information to update you all on so this blog will likely be lengthy. First of all, Happy New Year to everyone out there who has stumbled onto my blog. Jeramy and I have been non-stop since our arrival in Denver.

We arrived in Denver the evening of December 7th, just in time for the snow storm to hit town. Dad drove Jeramy's truck up here and Zach flew down to Austin to drive my car up(since I am not able to drive long distances anymore). We stopped and stayed the night in Lubbock on the 6th and then woke up the next morning to finish the last leg of the trip. Jeramy arrived first with the moving truck and started unloading. Zach and I got in that afternoon after Jeramy and helped unload with Zach's roommate, Rich. Dad did not make it in until much later that evening and was sick as a dog (we found out it was the flu after we put him on a plane home two days later). The next morning, we started the daunting process of unpacking our things and setting up the new house. The unpacking and unloading is still in progress, as weather and travel have slowed our unpacking process a bit.

Over the course of the first week here, we chipped away at the process while equally working to get information and equipment to the DMV so that we could establish residency. It took 3 tries going to the DMV, but we were finally able to get our drivers license's and register to vote. Once I received my Colorado ID, we went down to a local physician's clinic and completed the medical cannabis application (MMJ card). Obviously a brain tumor is a qualifying condition, so it was not challenging getting approved (although the Dept. of Health is backed up and I may not get my actual card before my temporary expires). I will go more into this later, but back to the move...

After we got all the major stuff set up and situated, Jeramy learned that he wouldn't be starting work until after the 1st of January, so we decided we would meet my family in Cincinnati, Ohio to celebrate Christmas (mom was upset that we weren't going because of Jeramy's new job). We drove up on the 16th of December and surprised everyone (except my aunt and uncle who had to know we were coming) and drove back on the 1st of January. We were able to see family we hadn't seen since the 2014 family reunion in Florida, which was fantastic. We also made the decision to get Lasik Eye Surgery from my Uncle at LasikPlus. It was the fastest and easiest surgical recovery I've ever had. That was our Christmas gift to each other this year (well I ended up getting two big gifts, but one was due to an unfortunate accident). I love it. Highly suggest lasik for anyone who normally wears contacts or glasses.

Jeramy started work on the 3rd of January and will be training days for the next 2-3 months before he switches to the night shift and 7 on/7 off daily schedule. This schedule is awesome because I won't be working for a bit while I complete my cannabis treatment and so that means we will be able to travel across the state to places I haven't been in such a long time. Jeramy and I enjoy adventure and this will be such a great opportunity for us to do more things together through travel and activity.

So now we are in the process of developing routine and getting settled. The month of January will not be any less busy for us than December I imagine. The blogging that I do from here on out will shift focus to include education and following me on my path of utilizing medical cannabis in the treatment of my condition(s). I will be utilizing medical cannabis to treat my possible tumor recurrence, seizures, and all other side effects associated with previous conventional treatment.

To start, I will provide an introductory explanation of the process of this treatment. Currently I am utilizing something called CO2 indica hash oil that is about 80% THC and supplementing with CBD oil during the day. Starting in February I will begin making my own oil so that I can utilize a high CBD strain full plant extract for treatment. The protocol that has been suggested to me is a 1:1 ratio of CBD to THC. My goal is to work up to taking a gram a day for a total of 60 grams. They say you should do this over a 90 day period, but I have spoken with quite a few individuals who have struggled to meet this dosage in 90 days, so I may not make it to that level within that time frame. At the present moment, I do not have full plant extract oil, so I am working with my dispensary to supplement the necessary amounts of THC with a high CBD oil. According to the education I have received from other individuals who have treated their own brain tumors, there are certain conditions that are more ideal than others and certain strains that are suggested over others. For Brain Tumors, the 1:1 ratio is ideal (although others have said its better to utilize a high THC strain). Suppository is the suggested means to transmit medicine because it causes the THC to bypass the liver and can deliver what is called Delta-9 THC to the brain (what is believed to be the most efficient way to produce cancer cell apoptosis). The other suggestions include mixing it with tea, rubbing it on gums, or adding it to meals. The problem with this delivery method is that it causes the THC to be broken down in the liver to 11-Hydroxyl THC (which is what delivers the feeling of being "high"). The process is very intensive and I have found that I do not particularly enjoy the feeling of being high. It has the most pronounced effect on my nervous system and causes me to experience mild levels of nausea. This is why I have decided to do the suppository route with my Full Plant Extract. I won't get the intense high, since it will be placed directly into the blood stream instead of broken down in the liver. We will make our own suppositories and then I will combine my dose with a carrier like coconut oil or olive oil to allow for appropriate transmission to the brain.

Phew! That's a lot for a supposedly "short" summary. Since we've been here, I have learned more than I ever thought possible with cannabis options. So, hopefully you will be intrigued enough to follow along with me on this journey. I am incredibly optimistic from the conversations I have been having with others regarding the use of cannabis to treat cancer. I have spoken with a gentlemen who had a rare form of liver cancer who was diagnosed as terminal and sent home to die. I spoke with him at the end of November and he explained to me he had been doing the cannabis protocol (over 90 days) at the request of his children. When I spoke to him in November, he had already surpassed his expiration date and stated he was feeling great and able to travel. As of January 1st, he has been declared cancer free (after they sent him home to die). I am also speaking with another gentleman in the Illinois area, who has a similar brain tumor and has been treating it with cannabis oil. He is almost finished with his treatment and goes in for an MRI next week and I am anxiously awaiting his results of the scans. I have read countless testimonials (especially with brain tumor patients) and spent the past 2+ years reading and talking to individuals who have both experienced the benefits of cannabis, as well as worked with others who have utilized cannabis for treatment of conditions. Within a few months of investigation, I knew this was the best option if the tumor came back.

Please feel free to reach out if you have questions or inquiries. I will do my best to answer what I can, but if you are truly interested, I suggest you look into it yourself. I'd start at www.leafly.com (it's the preferred site for legitimate information on cannabis use and benefits). So welcome to my journey! I hope that I can be a guiding light for other out there that have to face the unexpected and unfairness of being diagnosed with any illness, including cancer.