Truth Seeker
New Member
The year 2006 was the annus horribilis (year of horrors) for Tracey Gamer Fanning of West Hartford, Connecticut.
In September of that year, the then-36-year-old was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor and told she had a life expectancy of three to five years. She had surgery to remove most (but not all) of the tumor. She underwent radiation therapy and suffered from seizures and some paralysis. Tracey and her husband divorced. And in November, her beloved father, Donald Gamer, was killed in a car accident on his way back to the Berkshires after having brought Tracey and her two young children home.
Almost seven years later, Tracey has not only outlived the dire prognosis of cancer, but has faced her obstacles with courage and perseverance–with energy, high spirits and a sense of humor.
"Having witnessed the unbelievable experiences friends were having with their breast cancer battles, I thought the same would happen to me," Tracey wrote on her LinkedIn profile. "I thought I would walk in races, wear gray ribbons and eat yogurt with gray tops to raise money for brain cancer. What I soon realized was that there was very little brain cancer support out there."
The energized advocate set out to change this perception. In a short time, she co-founded the Connecticut Brain Tumor Alliance (The Connecticut Brain Tumor Alliance :: Fighting for the Cure), a nonprofit organization, which has raised more than $1 million for brain cancer research and patient support in Connecticut.
Recently, the powerhouse former broadcaster and advertising saleswoman found another mission: sharing the message that medical marijuana can be life-changing for people with serious illnesses.
"It [medicinal marijuana] gave me back my life," said Tracey, who suffered from severe headaches and lived on strong medications which left her bedridden until she took marijuana.
Since last May, medical marijuana has been legalized in Connecticut, although not to grow or sell. Tracey has joined the board of Vintage Foods, Ltd, which is bidding to be a distributor of marijuana to eligible patients when a legal path is approved.
By speaking out, Tracey hopes that she will be the public face of a medical marijuana patient. She is adamant about removing the fear and stigma from this medical treatment.
"I'm very proud to step into the spotlight to help patients, the public and politicians become educated on how medicinal marijuana can change the quality of life for those of us with devastating diseases," she says.
Her days are also filled raising two children (Mitchell, 12 and Shaye, 8) and being a stepmom to (brand new) husband Gregory Shimer's three children. Every three months, she undergoes MRI treatments to ensure the tumor hasn't grown — making her feel like she is living in 90-day increments.
Time may be limited, but in this annus mirabilis (year of miracles), she has her "Prince Charming" and her "Brady Bunch family" — including her spiritual rock, her mom Terry Gamer. And, she adds, "I am changing people's lives."
News Hawk- Truth Seeker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Source: ct.patch.com
Author: Dirk Langeveld
Contact: About
Website: Mom's Cancer Struggle Prompts Medical Marijuana Advocacy - Journeys - Montville, CT Patch
In September of that year, the then-36-year-old was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor and told she had a life expectancy of three to five years. She had surgery to remove most (but not all) of the tumor. She underwent radiation therapy and suffered from seizures and some paralysis. Tracey and her husband divorced. And in November, her beloved father, Donald Gamer, was killed in a car accident on his way back to the Berkshires after having brought Tracey and her two young children home.
Almost seven years later, Tracey has not only outlived the dire prognosis of cancer, but has faced her obstacles with courage and perseverance–with energy, high spirits and a sense of humor.
"Having witnessed the unbelievable experiences friends were having with their breast cancer battles, I thought the same would happen to me," Tracey wrote on her LinkedIn profile. "I thought I would walk in races, wear gray ribbons and eat yogurt with gray tops to raise money for brain cancer. What I soon realized was that there was very little brain cancer support out there."
The energized advocate set out to change this perception. In a short time, she co-founded the Connecticut Brain Tumor Alliance (The Connecticut Brain Tumor Alliance :: Fighting for the Cure), a nonprofit organization, which has raised more than $1 million for brain cancer research and patient support in Connecticut.
Recently, the powerhouse former broadcaster and advertising saleswoman found another mission: sharing the message that medical marijuana can be life-changing for people with serious illnesses.
"It [medicinal marijuana] gave me back my life," said Tracey, who suffered from severe headaches and lived on strong medications which left her bedridden until she took marijuana.
Since last May, medical marijuana has been legalized in Connecticut, although not to grow or sell. Tracey has joined the board of Vintage Foods, Ltd, which is bidding to be a distributor of marijuana to eligible patients when a legal path is approved.
By speaking out, Tracey hopes that she will be the public face of a medical marijuana patient. She is adamant about removing the fear and stigma from this medical treatment.
"I'm very proud to step into the spotlight to help patients, the public and politicians become educated on how medicinal marijuana can change the quality of life for those of us with devastating diseases," she says.
Her days are also filled raising two children (Mitchell, 12 and Shaye, 8) and being a stepmom to (brand new) husband Gregory Shimer's three children. Every three months, she undergoes MRI treatments to ensure the tumor hasn't grown — making her feel like she is living in 90-day increments.
Time may be limited, but in this annus mirabilis (year of miracles), she has her "Prince Charming" and her "Brady Bunch family" — including her spiritual rock, her mom Terry Gamer. And, she adds, "I am changing people's lives."
News Hawk- Truth Seeker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Source: ct.patch.com
Author: Dirk Langeveld
Contact: About
Website: Mom's Cancer Struggle Prompts Medical Marijuana Advocacy - Journeys - Montville, CT Patch
