The Cancer Came Back

4 days after my sister’s birthday, she got an unexpected call from her doctors saying they found a mass growing inside of her brain after one of her routine MRIs. Her stage 4, glioblastoma brain cancer came back. If you didn’t know, Glioblastoma is considered one of the deadliest human cancers today. This cancer grows and spreads rapidly, growing the size of a golf ball in 7 days. The average survival rate is 12-18 months and only 5% of patients survive more than five years. But at this time, Maki had just hit being clear for the past 5 years.

Everything moved so quickly, yet so slow at the same time. 2 weeks later she was scheduled for emergency brain surgery. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, the hospital was not allowing any visitors or family to accompany her before/after her surgery.  Imagine that, having to go through brain cancer surgery, alone. Not being able to be there with her once she woke up from the hospital was truly one of the hardest moments of my life.  The emotions that my sister dealt with are honestly unbearable to even think about.

I couldn’t believe it, a few hours after she got out of surgery she was FaceTiming and was texting me with no errors. She just got out of brain surgery and she was coherent? Comparing this to 5 years ago after her first GBM brain surgery, she could barely hold a conversation, especially not through text. (Imagine that feeling of drunk texting, but instead, she just got out of brain surgery and was texting?!)

But this was 5 years later. That only meant Maki was 5 years stronger, 5 years smarter, and that much more capable to combat this, this time around. We were ecstatic with how well she was managing all of this.

6 days after brain surgery, Maki was off of her pain medication. 6 DAYS. 3 weeks later she was already back to going on hikes with me. And by the 4th week, she was back to riding a bike, like she loved to do in the past. These were huge accomplishments and milestones for her as the first 10 days post-operation, she could barely go outside because her eyes were so sensitive to sunlight and it caused her massive headaches. This was also all during her intensive radiation treatment. 

Sometimes mental strength is harder than physical. I was there with her physically every single day, every single appointment, letting her know I would always be standing by her side. No matter what. Her health and healing was all I cared about. Her life was my main priority. I was there with her every step of the way. Not just physically but even more mentally. Being that constant voice in her head telling her she can and will push through this. Channeling messages from her angels letting her know this wasn’t the end. To keep pushing for a brighter future and to hold that vision so close and deep to her heart.

Life isn’t always glamourous but what matters is your mindset. How you chose to look for the lessons in each experience and learn the messages that are presented to you. How you decide to take what you’ve been given and use it to the best ability you possibly can.

It goes to show you how your mind really does control your reality. And the thoughts you think can shape the outcome of your life experience. She never gave up. She didn’t let those statistics, those thoughts, those fears take over. She chose to heal. She chose to have faith and to trust. The hardest thing to do when you are faced with a life or death situation.

Although I wish the circumstances could have been different… I cherish every minute I got to spend with her. From exploring new scenic routes, to dancing out of the radiation center on the last day of her treatment.

Today, Maki is back at work as an RN at Kaiser. Being a front-line worker to make sure you are all staying healthy and safe. I always ask her to get a more “chill” job, but it is incredible that her response is always that she wants to help people. I told her that her story alone would help so many others that are struggling with cancer or even friends/family members who just need some positive light. Her story offers hope and faith. To not let those fear-based thoughts rule your life. But most importantly decide to take control and realize YOU control your destiny and you are full of limitless potential.

The fight is not over yet. She will be on chemotherapy for a year and will be getting routine MRI checkups every few weeks.  My sister is the strongest person I know. Was this easy for her? Hell no, of course not. It still isn’t. It is normal to have fears resurface, but she is doing her best, trying to take care of herself and to heal from the trauma.

She truly is a miracle. If you needed any sense of inspiration or motivation, here it is. Most people see statistics such as “Only 5% of GBM patients live past 5 years” and think is no hope.  But choose to be that 5%, like my sister chose to be.

It has been 6 months since I posted my last video. There has been a lot going on. Sometimes you lose your inspiration and just need to be brought back to it.  And I have found my inspiration in her once again-

P.S. The header photos are all photos taken during her treatment. 

Right photo – exactly 2 weeks after brain surgery and undergoing radiation treatment every day. We took a trip down to Big Sur together. I wanted to show her some of my favorite spots that I most often go to for some peace. 

Center photo – 3 weeks after brain surgery and continuing radiation treatment every day – Maki’s first hike post-operation. HIKE 3 weeks after brain surgery? And what a coincidence to see a sign that reads “You are here, alive, and awake.” The messages you are meant to hear will always find their way to you. 

Left photo – 2 weeks ago, chemotherapy 5 days every month (increasing dosage every month) and IV Immunotherapy  – While she awaited the results from her routine MRIs, we went on a short coastal hike in Pacifica.  I felt this overall positive energy, I had a knowing that her results would be clear. And they were!