Memoirs: A Mother and Son’s Seven-Year Journey as They Battled Stage 4 Brain Cancer

By Shirley D. Minter

Parents would easily sacrifice their lives for their children. Can we barter with God, our life in exchange for the lives of our children? Would seeing your child suffer, in pain, enduring chemotherapy, radiation, and other debilitating forms of cancer treatments cause you to lose your faith, become angry with God, or even doubt Him or His love? This book is a compilation of memoirs that depicts a mother and son's commitment to cling to their faith as he fights for his life.

Now journey over a period of years and experience the peaks, the valleys, the joy, the pain, the struggles...as a mother and her young son together battle glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), a terminal form of brain cancer. Be inspired, encouraged, and strengthened by their unwavering faith and their trust in God's love, kindness, mercy and in a God who will never let us go through more than we can bear, a God who answers prayers.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Jan 5, 2023
• ISBN: 9798886853704

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Memoirs

A Mother and SonaEUR(tm)s Seven-Year Journey as They Battled Stage 4 Brain Cancer

Shirley D. Minter

ISBN 979-8-88685-369-8 (paperback)

ISBN 979-8-88751-977-7 (hardcover)

ISBN 979-8-88685-370-4 (digital)

Copyright © 2022 by Shirley D. Minter

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing

832 Park Avenue

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Dedication

Acknowledgments

Introduction

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

Famous People Who Died from Brain Tumors

About the Author

Dedication

This book is dedicated to my younger sister Georgella Minter. Although Georgella is no longer with us, she made her earthly transition on July 6, 2015, exactly four years after my son's death, Georgella was very instrumental in the longevity of my son. She told me what steps to take once my son was released from prison (incarcerated for being a black man). I am not angry because during his incarceration, he developed a stronger relationship with God, which ultimately saved his soul and increased my faith.

Nevertheless, my sister shared with me benefits to which my son may have been entitled. We acted on her advice, and weeks following Shomari's release from prison, he had a seizure. The same day he had the seizure, he obtained health insurance. I owe my ability to spend more time with my son, to see him get married and father two of my four grandchildren from this union, and so much more to my sister Georgella. Thank you, little sis, for sharing. Thank You, God, for using my sister to help us. I miss you and will always be grateful.

This book is also dedicated to all who have been diagnosed with a debilitating disease and given a death sentence but, because of their faith, family, friends, caregivers, loved ones, prayers, and God's mercy and grace, lived and made a difference in every one whom they encountered.

Acknowledgments

Thanks to everyone who prayed, fasted, showed love, support and encouragement. Thanks for your e-mails, calls, and letters as my son and I journeyed and battled stage 4 brain cancer.

Thank You, God, for giving us the strength to endure. Thank You for Your provisions, angels, love, grace, peace, and mercy. Thank You for teaching us about unwavering faith. Thank You for turning our mustard seed into a beautiful plant, which is continuously growing and creating other seeds and sprouts. We thank You, God, that Your inspired book Memoirs: A Mother and Son's Seven-Year Journey as They Battled Stage 4 Brain Cancer will encourage many.

It's been more than ten years since my beloved son made his earthly transition, July 6, 2011. It has been about eight years since God purposed me to write a book about our journey, our struggles, our valleys, our peaks, our faith, about life, and what it means to have God at the center of it, how He strengthens us to get through another second, minute, hour, day, week, month, year…

Know this: God perfectly orchestrated this book, even gave me the title and cover page. However, He also allowed me to go through challenges and more challenges. He sure did test my faith, but God…

A special thanks to my granddaughter Hayden, who helped me with my computer skills. Hayden, your help has been priceless.

Thank you, Phyllis and Jen, for proofreading and editing my manuscript.

Also, thanks to Karon for teaching Hayden how to retrieve my e-mails from the computer.

Thank you for your kindness, generosity, and compassion. I am abundantly grateful.

Introduction

In early 2004 and at the tender age of twenty-three, my only son, my baby, Shomari N'Namdi Minter-Smith, was diagnosed with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), an aggressive stage 4 brain cancer. Doctors gave Shomari one year to live, but he would thrive and live more than seven years.

On Wednesday, July 6, 2011, at approximately 8:05 p.m., my beloved son made his earthly transition. He was thirty-one years old.

During my son's seven-year journey with stage 4 brain cancer, he spent countless hours being examined by doctors, specialist, and others. He also spent much time in clinics, hospitals, taking chemotherapy, experimental drugs, radiation treatments, and participating in clinical trials. Almost monthly, he was required to undergo MRIs to determine the progression of the tumor and/or the success of the treatments.

At the time my son was going through this health journey, he was married and the father of two young children. Because of his medical condition, he was unable to maintain stable employment. His wife had to work to help support the family. Therefore, I assisted with his care, but approximately ninety days prior to his earthly transition, I became his primary caregiver.

This book details our journey during those seven years. These writings helped me through some of the most difficult and painful days, months, and years of my life. These notes helped me to breathe, to pray, to have faith, and to focus on God's grace and mercy. Often, writing these notes and sharing them with others kept me sane and helped me to focus on the positive fact that my son was still living.

What is glioblastoma?

Glioblastoma, also known as glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), is a very aggressive type of cancer that starts and grows quickly in the brain. Glioblastoma is one of a group of tumors called astrocytoma. These tumors start in astrocytes, star-shaped cells that nourish and support nerve cells (neurons) in the brain. However, a glioblastoma can contain many different types of brain cells, including dead brain cells. About 12 to 15 percent of people with brain tumors have glioblastomas.

This type of tumor grows very fast inside the brain. Its cells copy themselves quickly, and it has a lot of blood vessels that feed it. However, it rarely spreads to other parts of the body.

What does grade 4 astrocytoma mean?

Glioblastomas are sometimes called grade 4 astrocytoma tumors. Tumors are graded on a scale from 1 to 4 based on how different they look from normal cells. The grade indicates how fast the tumor is likely to grow and spread. A grade 4 tumor is the most aggressive and fastest-growing type. It can spread throughout your brain very quickly.

Types of glioblastoma

There are two types of glioblastoma:

Primary (de novo) is the most common type of glioblastoma. It's also the most aggressive form.

Secondary glioblastoma is less common and slower growing. It usually starts from a lower-grade, less-aggressive astrocytoma. Secondary glioblastoma affects about 10 percent of people with this type of brain cancer. Most people who get this form of cancer are age forty-five or younger.

Glioblastomas often grow in the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain. They can also be found in the brain stem, cerebellum, other parts of the brain, and the spinal cord.

Survival rates and life expectancy

The median survival time with glioblastoma is fifteen to sixteen months in people who get surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation treatment. Median means half of all patients with this tumor survive to this length of time. Everyone with glioblastoma is different. Some people don't survive as long. Other people may survive up to five years or more, although it's rare.

In children. Children with higher-grade tumors tend to survive longer than adults. About 25 percent of children who have this tumor live for five years or more.

Extending life expectancy. New treatments are extending life expectancy even more. People whose tumors have a favorable genetic marker called MGMT methylation have better survival rates. MGMT is a gene that repairs damaged cells. When chemotherapy kills glioblastoma cells, MGMT fixes them. MGMT methylation prevents this repair and ensures that more tumor cells are killed.

Although Shomari was diagnosed with GBM in early 2004, my computer notes from 2004 to October 2006 were destroyed. These memoirs will cover November 2, 2006, to December 31, 2011.

Chapter 1

2006

Our journey continues: Shomari continues to undergo numerous treatments, with inconsistent results.

I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in His word I hope; my soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning.

—Psalm 130:5-6

Thursday, November 2, 2006, at 5:55 a.m.

Dear Family and Friends,

I give God the praise, honor, and glory for His continued healing power, His grace and mercy. Shomari has his MRI on Tuesday, November 7, and receives his results on Thursday, November 9. Please pray with me and continue to thank God for his healing. Also, my little granddaughter Hayden has an eye appointment on Friday; please pray with me that her eyes are okay. I continue to be thankful for you and your heartfelt prayers. To God be the glory for the magnificent things He has done! Amen.

Have a beautiful