Dear Editor,
I am writing today to raise awareness about brain tumors in our community.
My beautiful niece Miranda was diagnosed 3 years ago with a brain tumor/cancer. She lost her battle at the age of 26 in October 2017.
First a few facts….
- there are more than 120 different types of tumors
- in the US, there will be 78,000 new patients newly diagnosed with a primary brain tumor this year
- Brain tumors are the leading cause of death from cancer in children under the age of 14, roughly 8 kids EVERY day are diagnosed
- 16,000 people in the United States will lose their battle with a brain tumor this year. There were 3 families in Tucker County affected by this in 2017 alone.
- 600,000 people in the United States are currently living with a brain tumor. Tucker Co. has a few of these Brave patients right here in our county.
On April 11, 2018, the Tucker County Commission designated May to be National Brain Tumor Awareness Month here in Tucker County.
This encourages increased public awareness of brain tumors to honor those who have lost their lives to this devastating disease or are currently living with a brain tumor diagnosis.
We need better efforts to develop better treatments for brain tumors that will improve the quality of life and the long-term prognosis of those individuals diagnosed with a brain tumor.
We need support for those individuals who are battling brain tumors, as well as the families, friends and caregivers of those individuals.
Brain Tumors are silent and sneaky thieves, stealing personalities, livelihoods, abilities – and…. far too often, lives.
Go Gray in May !! – – – please support your local friends and families.
Sincerely,
April Trader Bodkin
Parsons, WV
