Hello! I am about to undergo a second major brain surgery for a tumor severely compressing my brainstem. These tumors are the hallmark of a condition known as NF2 - Neurofibromatosis Type II. Sooner or later all of us need to get the same kind of surgery and some need the surgery several times...

Hello! I am about to undergo a second major brain surgery for a tumor severely compressing my brainstem. These tumors are the hallmark of a condition known as NF2 - Neurofibromatosis Type II. Sooner or later all of us need to get the same kind of surgery and some need the surgery several times as there is no cure currently for NF2. Thus, the tumors grow back - some sooner than others.
These tumors have caused me to become completely deafened, impaired my vision, and stolen my balance function. The surgery is to save my life and preserve my present quality of life if possible. Even with such devastating side effects, I am doing quite well compared to others who have suffered from this disorder.
My surgery is coming up fast! If you miss it, there are always others of us checking in and out of the hospital for brain surgery (and spine surgery). I can't keep track who is going in for surgery as it is that many.
One may follow my progess and the days leading up to my surgery on my blog at www.diverbeck.blogspot.com

Why Have my eyes gone bad so quickly?

At age 45 during a yearly eye exam I found out why I had trouble driving at night and started seeing HALO's and had depth preception issues.

I had cataracts not in one eye but in each eye and in my left eye I was also told I had two cysts ...

Why Have my eyes gone bad so quickly?

At age 45 during a yearly eye exam I found out why I had trouble driving at night and started seeing HALO's and had depth preception issues.

I had cataracts not in one eye but in each eye and in my left eye I was also told I had two cysts WHAT? This I was told by eye eye Surg/ was normal! Normal? Oh Dear Dr's I need you and I need a second op/ STAT!

My name is Jessica Grossman and I'm the model and Spokesperson of the new Uncover Ostomy campaign- launched on World Ostomy Day in both Canada and the United States.

I am working with both IDEAS [Intestinal Disease Education and Awareness Society] and the UOAA [United Ostomy Associati...

My name is Jessica Grossman and I'm the model and Spokesperson of the new Uncover Ostomy campaign- launched on World Ostomy Day in both Canada and the United States.

I am working with both IDEAS [Intestinal Disease Education and Awareness Society] and the UOAA [United Ostomy Association of America] to shatter the negative stigmas about ostomies.

I have had an ileostomy since I was 13 years old because of Crohn's disease. Now, 20 years old, I am living the life I would never have imagined without my ostomy.

Myself, IDEAS, and the UOAA, have created an entire campaign based around myself and my ostomy. We are taking two sides to the campaign. We are showing the public that ostomies are not weird or disgusting, but life saving and life giving. We are also showing ostomates themselves that having an ostomy does not hinder opportunities, but create ones that would not have existed without the surgery.

The campaign has been going strong since October but we need to take another step! I think featuring the ostomy on your show would spread some very positive ideas about what ostomies are and how they save lives. Stigma's need to be shattered and this is a perfect way to do that!

The campaign wesbite is http://www.uncoverostomy.com and we have a Facebook fanpage http://www.facebook.com/uncoverostomy

It's time to uncover ostomy.

Links for more information;

http://www.weneedideas.com
http://www.uoaa.org
http://www.ostomycareandsupply.com/

I am writing on behalf of the members of the ostomy board on healingwell.com. Everyday we answer, and ask, questions regarding ostomies. There is so little information readily available and much of it is misinformation. Because of this we read posts from people who are afraid of surgery be...

I am writing on behalf of the members of the ostomy board on healingwell.com. Everyday we answer, and ask, questions regarding ostomies. There is so little information readily available and much of it is misinformation. Because of this we read posts from people who are afraid of surgery because they don't have the correct information. So many people suffer from ulcerative collitis, crohns disease, chronic constipaion and other diseases, pumping their bodies full of dangerous drugs and suffering needlessly because they don't understand ostomies. Many people think they will be confined to their homes because of a smell, or that people will be able to tell just by looking. They think they won't be able to wear the clothes they want to. Or that their quality of life will be compromised, that they will be unable to run, or swim or hike. Or that their diet will be restricted. When in reality, all of these are misconceptions. People with ostomies can, and do, anything they want! Another big problem is that people are made to think that surgery is "giving up" because of all the negativity regarding it. Surgery is not giving up, surgery is taking back your life and winning, beating the disease.
If you could spend some time on your show clearing up some of these myths up, maybe fewer people would continue suffering out of fear. Many of the people on the board with ostomies held on needlessly to our colons, because we didnt know how much better life would be with an ostomy! Your show is always good about providing factual information in a way everyone can understand. And if you would touch on this subject and let people see someone with an ostomy, it would go a long way into clearing up all these misconceptions.
Please take this into consideration. Thank you for reading.
Members of the ostomy board on healingwell.com

Reasons why this procedure may be beneficial; reasons why this procedure maybe should not be attempted; information the doctor should/must disclose to the patient; truth about complications - and when there are complications, what are they, how to get proper care, and living long-term with the...

Reasons why this procedure may be beneficial; reasons why this procedure maybe should not be attempted; information the doctor should/must disclose to the patient; truth about complications - and when there are complications, what are they, how to get proper care, and living long-term with them; are the statistics accurate; doctor's opinions vs. surgeon's opinion about this procedure.

show women/men that it is nothing to be ashamed of living with an ileostomy. Many who suffer chronic or serious injury/disease find it har to live with a bag attached to the body for eliminating waste.

show women/men that it is nothing to be ashamed of living with an ileostomy. Many who suffer chronic or serious injury/disease find it har to live with a bag attached to the body for eliminating waste.