A divorced woman in 1988 with 2 girls to raise. My oldest was 13 at the time my other girl was 8. I left the marriage in 1983 because of his drinking and lack of concern on how I felt about it.

I got a job in an auto factory good wages to take care of her 2 girls, but as the kids got older one pay cheque wasn't enough so I got a second job at night, I cleaned office buildings and Banks.

I got to the point where 2 jobs was too much, but I was determined not to go back to live with stress and anger anymore. I looked for a job that paid more, with experience in the auto factory. I found it and was able to quit my second job.

Everything was going good, for years just worked raised my kids and went out on the weekends Bingo, single dances..

Then in Feb. 1999 after 11 years of peace, I kept losing my balance bumping into co-workers and walls but I just thought I was working to hard. One day going to work My eyes went blurry. Thinking I needed new glasses, mine were 8 or 9 years old, I made an eye appointment.

I went on the weekend to visit my oldest daughter who was married now. Got out of my car in April of 1999 to go up to the door of her house, and fell down. Lisa, my daughter, came out to help me up and told me time to see a doctor. At the time I remember thinking this is silly I know whats wrong just over tired. But I did see my Doctor, he sent me for an MRI that's when they found a brain stem tumour.

So on July 14th 1999 they scheduled me for surgery.

I don't have any memory of the going in for surgery just remember being afraid. They did the operation and got all of the tumour except the operation left me disabled. I couldn't walk or talk.

While I was In the hospital they gave me therapy for my legs and my speech. It worked. I learned to get around with a walker and to talk enough to communicate. I was so determined to get out of that hospital, but they said I won't be able to go anywhere if I can't walk. So every chance I got would try to use my legs

I had a few falls. One fall I had ticked a nurse off. I was told to ring the buzzer for help to the washroom. I rang and rang nothing so I went to the bathroom myself but fell got a black eye. A nurse came and found me on the floor in the bathroom. She gave me heck for not waiting, well when you gotta go you gotta go lol. I wanted out, so I pushed myself to get around without help.

My daughter Lisa opened her house for me to live with her and her family. Once the doctor saw that I wouldn't be going back to living on my own, he said I could go but someone in my family would have to learn how to give me my nightly stomach needle. Lisa practiced at the hospital to give me my needle. It was hard on Lisa who has a weak stomach to begin with and to have to give a needle to her mom in her stomach was really hard but she did it. I will always be thankful to her for putting her Mom's need ahead of herself.

Now in 2009 I have my own apartment. I have home care 3x a week Meals on Wheels 2x a week. I have lost alot, my license, my job but I have gained alot. Happiness , peacefulness, acceptance of fate.

Things happen for a reason, if this hadn't happened I wouldn't had the time to find out I love to write about my thoughts and my life experiences.

I have days where I wonder why and get frustrated doing things, but I enjoy my family more. I appreciate little things like being able to go to the bathroom without waiting for someone to take me.

It could be worse, not much worse lol