Organizer of UCLA Brain Tumor Center Community Lecture
Here is her story:
Julia Post Guenther januari 9, 2020 · As my birthday approaches, I view it quite differently this year-I am so happy to enjoy another day, another week, another year on this earth. A year ago last Christmas evening, I was admitted to Hoag Hospital’s emergency room. This was after a year of progressing symptoms. It started with migraines, memory loss, confusion, balance issues, fainting spells and going into December, barely able to walk. I was misdiagnosed in October by a GP, telling me it was because of my stress levels ( I was under a tremendous amount of stress) and after many blood tests, she told me it was mercury poisoning, due to consuming too much sashimi. I was told I needed to meditate and control my stress. Not once did she order an MRI even though we suggested it. Sitting in the emergency room at Hoag, Christmas night, after an MRI was done immediately, we braced ourselves for the worst. The emergency room doctor came in and gave us my diagnosis. I had a massive brain tumor and it was cancer. He said I was to have emergency surgery within two hours. By this time it was 1:00 am. My husband and I were in shock. How can this be happening? I was so healthy... I ate right, I worked out. This didn’t make sense. The doctor came back an hour later and told us it wasn’t cancer but it was a massive tumor that had been growing for years. If I didn’t have it removed within a month it would kill me. It gave us time to research the best and we found Dr Linda Liau at UCLA. She was referred to us by several different sources. We met with her within a week after my diagnosis and although she is the head of the neurosurgery department at UCLA and doesn’t take on many surgeries, she took my case. On January 29th of 2019, she removed the tumor. As they wheeled me into the surgery room, I was surrounded by so much love. My husband, my daughter, my sister were there to hold my hand and help me get through this. I surrendered to God at this moment and prayed, and prayed more. Immediately after the surgery I felt like the fog was lifted off of me. I had been living like a zombie for a long time, years, really. The recovery was brutal, the hardest thing I have ever been through. Almost a year later, I am finally able to say I am close to feeling like myself. My hair is still growing in patches but that’s the least of my worries. I am happy to be alive, I see life differently. I do not allow toxic people, toxic situations into my life. I have learned to say NO to situations that aren’t healthy for me. I have learned about self care and self love. My relationship with God is solid. I cherish every day and appreciate all the little things I would take for granted in the past. I asked UCLA how I can give back and they asked me if I would host a type of “Ted Talk” here in Orange County. This will NOT be a fundraiser but is to raise awareness to all the medical advances in neurosurgery. It will be composed of Dr. Linda Liau (chief of neurosurgery at UCLA) and members of her staff. I will say a few words as well. Please join me. It will be a beautiful evening. No charge and we will have beverages and snacks. The invite is below. If everyone could RSVP I would so appreciate it. Thank you for letting me tell my story. Happy New Year and many blessings. For all those who wish to attend the event, please RSVP at this link for your free tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ucla-brain-tumor-center-commun…
AI
