Remembering Julie

  

      Today is the 2 year anniversary of my Sister-in-Law Julie's death.  She passed away from Brain Cancer at the age of 29.  She met my brother on the day Edi was born in August, 2001 and they got married in October 2003.  In April 2005 they had my niece Caroline.  She was a beautiful, smart, and talented lady.  She taught 5th grade at our local Elementary school that Edi attends.  The students and staff loved her.  One of her students even started a Facebook Group titled I MISS MRS LEE.  She received her masters in Education in the Spring of 2005 and was one day wanting to become a principal.  In November 2006 she began having really bad headaches, dizziness, and some other symptoms.  She went to the doctor a few times that month and they kept telling her it was something different every time.  In  early December on a Sunday my brother took her to the ER, there they did a CAT Scan and found the tumor.  Stage 4 Brain Cancer called Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM).  She had the tumor removed before Christmas and began Chemo and Radiation in January 2007.  She of course was out of work starting in December, but returned to work in April 2007 even though she was still undergoing treatments.  She would have a CAT Scan/MRI every so often and every time they were clear even in November 2007.  The week of Christmas however things got worse.  She was starting with the same symptoms as before.  The day after Christmas she went to the doctor and had the scan, there was another tumor. This one was not in a place where it could be removed.  So, in mid November there was no tumor and by Christmas there was a huge one.  The doctors wanted to try some new chemo drugs and put her in a new trial study, so they began preparing for that; all the while she was getting weaker and more disoriented by the day.  My brother took care of her day and night and when Hospice was finally called in, he let them do very little.  On the morning of February 6th, 2008 Julie passed away with much of her family near by.  Her daughter Caroline was just 22 months old.  She left behind a husband, child, mom.,dad, sister, brother-in-law, 2 nephews, my family, and lots of grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends.
      There is no cure for this cancer and the average life expectancy after diagnosis is 14 months.  Julie made it exactly 14 months.  My mom and brother now have a Team for Angels Among Us at Duke that raises money just for Brain Cancer.  The event is held every April.  You can check out information on Angels Among Us, the Teams, join Our Team, or make a donation by going to http://www.angelsamongus.org/.  To find our Team click on Participating Teams over on the left and then find our Team called Jogging for Julie under the Js.  The links to the Teams are not fully completed yet on the Angels site, so check back daily if you'd like, they said that it would be a couple of weeks.  You can also visit http://web.me.com/jalsunny/Jogging_For_Julie/Welcome.html to learn more about Julie, Angels Among Us, and Donating. 

The color for Brain Cancer is Grey, so wear grey today in memory of Julie 

and all people with this horrible disease.  

     We Miss You Julie and Love You Very Much!!!