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Maria and kids, an hour before herfirst surgery (Israel)Photos (above and below) takentwo days after surgery #1

Maria Parakilas

Brain tumour survivor, eight months on

It was 21 February 2009, and Maria was residing in Israel with her family asher husband was on a work assignment. That evening Maria went to bedwith a bad headache and nausea. She was sick throughout the night, butlittle did she and her family realise the cause of her illness.Urgent medical appointments and a CT scan discovered a ‘lesion’ requiringfurther investigation. Maria wasimmediately admitted to hospital. AnMRI scan showed that Maria had a largelesion in her brain, crossing bothhemispheres (mostly on the LHS) andplacing significant pressure on the frontof her brain.Urgent surgery was undertaken a fewhours later, which lasted four hours. Aportion of the tumour (confirmed by theneurosurgeon post-surgery) was removed.However, due to its location it was notpossible to remove all of the mass.Maria was hospitalised for four days. Itwas an agonising 10-day wait for thepathology result, which revealedGlioblastoma Multiforme (GBM), a GradeIV malignant tumour (cancer). GBM isconsidered the worst of brain tumours.

Maria Parakilas Brain tumour survivor – 8 months on

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Photos taken theevening before her 2

surgery (Australia)In ICU, a few hours after surgery #2

Maria would remain in Israel for a further three months due to her inability to travel, combined with the fact that had she returned she would not havebeen able to receive the radiotherapy required in the necessary timeframe.Maria was cleared to return to Australia at the end of May 2009, having nowcompleted six weeks of radiotherapy in conjunction with daily chemotherapy (temozolomide). Throughout this three monthperiod, Maria struggled with ongoing severe headpain and was on a cocktail of drugs that wasn’tproviding any relief.Upon Maria’s return to Australia (Canberra), shemet with her ‘new’ Oncologist. A few days laterMaria underwent a post-therapy MRI to determinethe treatment’s effectiveness. The MRI was followedby a standard consultation with her ‘new’ neurosurgeon. It was a huge shock to learn that theMRI showed what appeared to be a significantregrowth of tumour. Maria was scheduled foranother surgery.On 15 June 2009, Maria underwent her second craniotomy (this time“awake”) to debulk as much tumour as possible. At the commencement of surgery the neurosurgeon discovered a massive cerebral abscess (on scanslooks the same as tumour mass). It was a lengthy and delicate surgery toremove as much infection and tumouras possible. Maria now sports atitanium plate in the front of her skull,which was used to replace the infectedbone flap.

Maria Parakilas Brain tumour survivor – 8 months on

Page 3 of 4Maria lost her hair as a result of theradiation treatment. Due to the shortinterval between both surgeries, Mariawas not able to undergo furtherirradiation in Australia. However, herhair is now growing back—althoughshe was hoping for a colour other than“salt and pepper”.It has been a huge blessing that Maria has suffered only minor neurologicaldeficits as a result of both surgeries.Since her second surgery in June, Maria has—against many odds—shownimprovement. Unfortunately the range of medications she takes causes ahost of side effects that she continues to combat in addition to the tumouritself. During this International Brain Tumour Awareness Week, Maria willcommence her fifth cycle of chemotherapy.In amongst all the ups and downs, Maria’s most recent MRI (September)showed some reduction in the remaining tumour mass. Awesome news!Maria is becoming more capable of caring for herself over longer periods of time, which has allowed her husband to recently return to work (part-time).One of her greatest frustrations is not being allowed to drive “for now”. Throughout this journey, Maria, herhusband and children have remainedsolid in their faith and willingness topersevere, regardless of thecircumstances. Maria’s husband hasmanaged a family blog from ‘Day 1’ toallow family and friends to be share inthis journey.