Same story just a different date

So once again, I was running, I had a seizure, I was taken to a hospital, I had an MRI and they discovered a tumor. It is a smaller tumor in a similar spot. The difference is this one may be a little more intertwined with blood vessels and the part of my brain involved with motor function but the treatment plan seems to be the same. Surgery is scheduled tentatively for Monday June 21st. I think I will be headed home today probably to my parents. Visitors are all welcome just let me know in advance so I know to be home. Text either me or my sister her #401-359-7727. If you don't hear back from me I may be asleep. The only thing is sick people should probably wait til after surgery to come because I don't want to catch anything that may delay surgery and my sister's new baby is there as well. Not up for talking yet but texts and e-mails are most welcome. Thanks for all the love see you soon.

ways to donate

There are several ways to contribute.

Online: http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/neurology_neurosurgery/make_gift.html

You can make the gift “In honor of John Petrovick”

704 Rusack Court

Arnold, MD 21012

Or directly:

Make a check payable to Johns Hopkins and in the memo part of the check write Dr. Quinones Stem Cell Research and mail it to:

John Petrovick

704 Rusack Court

Arnold, MD 21012

OR

Office of Development
Departments of Neurology and Neurosurgery
c/o The Fund for Johns Hopkins Medicine
100 North Charles Street, Suite 401
Baltimore, MD 21201

Thanks again for all your support.

John Petrovick

Inside all of us is HOPE.

2010 marathon

As you know I was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2008. I was fortunate in that I was set up with a brilliant doctor/surgeon. He heads a research group that is responsible for some of the methods that help to control and treat brain tumors. I have gone to their lab and sat in on their meetings. I am confident that this group will ultimately find a cure for brain tumors.
Brain tumors require different treatment methods than other forms of cancer. That is why it is important that specialized research groups get funds and donations directly. My surgeon Dr. Alfredo Quiñones-Hinojosa, is a member of a research team at Johns Hopkins which works towards developing innovative methods for treating brain tumors. Further information about the group can be found at: http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/neurology_neurosurgery/specialty_areas/brain_tumor/.
Once again I will be running the Baltimore Marathon and I am asking that people make donations and sponsor me in my race. I will be accepting donations well after the actual race.
Thank again for all your support.

I finished the Marathon in a time of 3:40:45. It was a big day for me because it marked the end of the most difficult period of time thus far in my life. It finally felt like I was able to put some of the things that had happened in the past year behind me. I like to think that I kept the "why me" moments to a minimum during this time period. I will confess that I felt like somethings had been taken from me when all of this happened. I now feel as though I am better off than I was when this tumor presented itself. I may not have all my hair back, but I found out a lot about myself. I also found out how many good friends I have.
Tomorrow I will be turning over all of the donations that you sent me. I have not totaled the amount yet, but I think I eclipsed $5000! I'd like to thank all of you for your contributions. You may not fully understand how much it means to me. I was reminded this week about why I was raising funds. A man that I met during my radiation treatments named Jimmy Schwab did not win his fight with his brain tumor. I did not know he had passed in June. He went right after me on the radiation machine everyday. I saw him everyday that I had treatment and he was always in a better mood than I was. While I am saddened by the news of his death, it makes me all the more appreciative of how much support people gave. Treatment has come a long way but there is still a long way to go.
Your money will save someone who is a parent, a sibling, a child, or a friend to someone. You invested your money in a research team that I fully believe will have a hand in finding a cure to cancer.
So from the bottom of my heart thank you!

It has been a whole year

It may surprise some of you to know that I will be running in the Baltimore Running Festival Marathon on October 10, 2009. I hope that some of you will sponsor me in this event in order to raise money for brain tumor research.

For those of you who are not aware, finishing a marathon has been a goal of mine for sometime. I was training for the 2008 Baltimore Marathon when I literally ran into some bad news. One year ago today I was running in preparation for the race when I collapsed due to a seizure.

Doctors discovered a malignant tumor in the right frontal lobe of my brain. Eight days later I underwent brain surgery and the tumor was successfully removed. The results of my pathology report required me to complete radiation and chemotherapy. The treatment was a long and difficult process but, it is not nearly as tough as it was even five years ago.

Brain tumors like the one I had require different treatment methods than other forms of cancer. That is why it is important that specialized research groups get funds and donations directly. My surgeon Dr. Alfredo Quiñones-Hinojosa, is a member of a research team at Johns Hopkins which works towards developing innovative methods for treating brain tumors. This group is responsible for some of the only methods effective in treatment of brain tumors. Further information about the group can be located at: http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/neurology_neurosurgery/specialty_areas/brain_tumor/.

I received overwhelming support in my fight against cancer from so many different people. Since it seems as though I may have won my battle, I am asking that you direct your support to a cause that can help many others get to where I am. Any donation toward this goal would be most appreciated.


Thankfully,

John Petrovick
Jpetrovick5@gmail.com
Cell- 443-527-5402


Please make checks payable to "Johns Hopkins." In the memo part of the check, please write Dr. Quinones Stem Cell Research. Those of you wishing to contribute can send donations to me at:
704 Rusack Ct.
Arnold, MD 21012

Finished

I'm not sure how many people are still reading, so maybe I'm just talking with myself. I just want to thank everyone for the support I have received. Unless I have made a mistake in my count, I am finally finished with my chemotherapy. This was the last portion that was part of my treatment plan.
I cannot say enough about the friends and family I have. I would not have been able to do this without you. Those who supported me the most saw me in my lowest moments and pulled me through them. I owe all of you something I can never pay back.
I am so wiped out right now I really don't think I have had a chance to let this moment sink in.

Wow

I don’t mind bragging about what I just did. I finished a semester of law school which I never believed I would do over again. I never told anyone else but I was lying if I said I knew I could do this. Some people doubted whether I had what it took to get into law school to begin with. I won’t finish number 1, but after what I’ve been through this school year it doesn’t matter. I know that there is not a person on this earth that I can’t stand toe to toe with when it comes to determination. I owe that to all of you. It may not seem like any big deal to anyone else but one semester of law school is now the proudest moment in my life.
I don’t mind telling everyone that I cried for a half an hour when I turned my last exam in. The support I got from everyone was unbelievable. Your assumptions that I could do this drove me to this accomplishment. I stood on all of your shoulders to reach what I could not have done by myself.
I still have some a long way to go before I can say I am fully recovered but this is an unbelievable achievement for me.