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By: Andrea Miller
Birthday gifts, Christmas gifts, graduation gifts…we’re set in a society that longs after gifts. I have learned, however, that the most important gift one can receive is a clean bill of health. I have not had the pleasure of knowing what that is truly like. I have been sick on and off for the past twenty-two years.
I have learned to be content with the day at hand, not knowing what tomorrow may bring. But through my struggles, trips to the doctor, tumors, surgeries, medication, and the like, I may soon get better, knowing and sharing with others what the gift of good health truly is.
Medullablastoma is a very rare and often fatal type of brain cancer. At age one I was diagnosed with this cancer, having a tumor in my brain the size of an orange. Living in California at the time, I was taken to the UCLA Medical Center, where the first of two surgeries took place. The tumor was removed, three weeks later it re-grew; nearly 1/3 of my brain was removed during the second operation. Doctors informed my parents that I had a 10% chance of survival, even then it was likely I would never walk or pass a third grade learning level.
Despite my grim outlook, I beat the odds.
However, living through two brain operations, radiation, and a year of chemo therapy does not come without consequences: I have no hair in the back of my head, loss of balance, diminished fine motor skills, lack of good hand-eye coordination, severe deafness, and weak eyesight.
My family moved to Minnesota when I was two years old. The years in elementary school were hard for me. I was teased and criticized. It was hard for me to see the board, and I could not hear what was said to me; I resolved not to talk much at all. I never fit in with any other kids.
During my junior year of high school, I was complaining to my mother of seeing “pictures” in my mind. I was taken to the Mayo Clinic and hooked up to an overnight video EEG (electroencephalogram) monitor. A day and a half later doctors came to my room, informing my mother and me that I was having seizures. I was diagnosed as having epilepsy and complex/partial seizure disorder. Because I was having seizures in so many different areas of my brain, surgery was not an option. So much trauma to my brain as a youngster, doctors did not relish the idea of another brain surgery anyhow.
Short-term memory loss was also a problem when I had seizures. Finally, in early 2009, my Mayo Clinic Neurologist Dr. Jeffrey Britton discussed with my parents and me the potential of using the Vagus Nerve Stimulator. I had this stimulator implanted on November 2nd, 2009, by Dr. Meyer. After just one month the device started to work. I began going days without seizures. I am confident this stimulator will continue to work, taking away seizures, allowing me independence and freedom in my life.
Struggling to expose myself to my worries, I spent much time at Mayo Clinic in CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) trying to work through my anxious thoughts. Finally, after some time, I was put on one drug that seemed to help me very much; as it became easier for me to expose myself to my worries, letting go of things I had no control over, and working through my anxieties. Mayo Clinic has given me a firm foundation on which to challenge my anxious thoughts.
Radiation from my initial brain cancer is believed to have damaged my thyroid, leaving me with an appetite that could not be satisfied, and mood swings. About a year and a half ago, Mayo Endocrinologist Dr. Charles Abboud discovered that my thyroid was not functioning and also had several tumors on it. Two days before Christmas, 2008, Mayo surgeon Dr. Geoffrey Thompson removed it. Final pathology reports came back, declaring cancer in the smallest of the tumors. I was now put on a thyroid supplement. Over the course of many months, my TSH (thyroid supplemental hormone) level was checked often, altering doses of the thyroid supplement frequently, until TSH levels were within normal range. And seeing as my appetite was back to normal, and mood swings were gone, Mayo Clinic had helped solve just another one of my many health issues.
Everyday continues to be a struggle for me, but despite the many health issues I face, I continue to take comfort in the staff at Mayo Clinic.
I have found that there truly are blessings in everything where there is heartache.
Eight years ago I founded the Andrea Miller Foundation, a non-profit with the aim to help orphans and needy children. The Andrea Miller Foundation has supported numerous Minnesota children, as well as internationally; two orphanages have been built in India with Foundation funds, support has been given to Haiti and Rwanda as well.
Now I can focus on what I love to do—helping other people—thanks to Mayo Clinic, who helped diagnose and treat my sicknesses, enabling me to find new ways to cope with them, living my life despite my sicknesses.
Today, I volunteer with the foundation, helping those I may, speaking and inspiring many thousands of people.
What a wonderful article! I am dealing with chronic health issues along with a birth defect and to hear how someone has overcome all the challenges it can bring is so encouraging!
Andrea, You are an inspiration to everybody, period!!!!! You have been a great help to me, when I start to feel down about my health, I just think about how you have handeled your situation. I feel like I know you personally, I consider your Mom a good friend. You will always be in my prayers, also your family. Take care, Keep on being strong.
Gus Cristodero
Hi Andrea,
What a beautiful writer you are. You know we hold you near and dear in our hearts. We miss you. We are so proud of the great work you do.
What a blessing you are.
Love you always,
Steve, Patti and Jack
Changin’ the world, one soul at a time!
All in God’s good timing!
My dream is to write a best seller some day, Patti!
Miss and love you all! Always!
Can’t wait to see you!
Love,
Andrea
Dearest Andrea,
Once again you inspire and give hope to people who will never know you personally. You are an amazing gift to us all and the children you help have been blessed beyond measure through your generosity, kindness and grace. May you have a long life full of love, laughter and the good health you so richly deserve. Thank you so much for all you’ve done and all you continue to do. Hope to see you soon.
Love and hugs,
Lorene
Andrea,
What a blessing your story must be to so many people. I know it was a blessing to me! I too, owe so much to the doctors at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. They saved my life (under the divine intervention of my Lord, Jesus Christ) six years ago. I had Non Hodkin’s Lymphoma (cancer) in my spenoid sinus which also spread to other areas of my head and cranial nerves and neck, which caused me to lose my hearing, vison, and facial control on the left side of my head. These doctors NEVER gave up on me, and I am so thankful for such a wonderful place! I am so glad that they have been able to bless you with continued treatment and care all of these years, which has allowed you to then bless others with your gifts and talents! The fact that you, at such a young age, have started a foundation that has helped so many children brings tears to my eyes! Never let yourself feel that the physical challenges you have faced makes you beneath anyone. You, my dear girl, have accomplished what many people on this planet(including myself) only dream about! May God continue to bless and heal you. I am privleged to meet you, as I have been privleged to meet so many other Mayo friends over the last six years
Dear Diane!
I am so glad you find such encouragement and hope through my story! Thank you for your kind words and thoughts. They mean so much to me!
God has a plan for all of us! Like I say: We’re changing the world, one soul at a timed!
It encourages me to know someone who puts such faith in Jesus Christ! He is the one who has beat death for us!
I will keep you in my thoughts, as Mayo continues to help you through your health issues!
God bless!
Andrea
Andrea,
You are truly an amazing person! You are the most talented, ambitious person I know. You are truly sincere in all that you do. You are very special. God does have a plan and I cannot say enough times what a wonderful person you are!!!! Your entire family is amazing. Thank you for sharing. Thank you for being “you”. Your family always thinks of others no matter what is going on in your lives.
Please know you and your family is always in our thoughts and prayers.
~ Cathy K.
Thank you for sharing your journey with us, Andrea. You are such an inspiration, and God has truly blessed the world with your presence!! Continued prayers go out to you and your family. Hope to see you soon!
Love,
Kelsey
Dear Andrea,
You are wonderful! I am so glad that God had our paths cross. You are an inspiration and a joy! I know that God looks at you and rejoices! Your writing is beautiful–you have a precious gift that you share so beautifully!
We have Life Group at our house tonight and I miss you!!
See you soon!
Love
Ruth Ann
Hi Ruth Ann!
Thank you. God uses my life to inspire others, and bring them closer to Him!
I miss you too! I will be seeing you when I come back down to Florida! It is finally getting warm here! Ha ha.
I am so glad you are doing so well, and continue to hang in there! God is Always good!!
Love always!
Andrea
Andrea ~
We soooo want to meet you! Our daughter Ava Jacobs also suffered an “orange-size” tumor in her cerebellum at the age of just 13 months. She has been treated at Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston, TX. Your mother has kept in touch with us… sending cards along the way, and we have gotten to meet her at Lake Ottertail a coupe of summers ago. Any chance you’ll in the Ottertail area on the 9th-10th of July? We’ll be there with our girls, and I know Ava would LOVE to meet you!!!
Jeremy & Amy Jacobs
Dearest Jeremy!
I have been thinking and praying for Ava, often. I hope she is doing well. God is Always with His children!
I will be up at Ottertail July 9th and 10th, I would love to see you up there, and meet Ava!
Love in Christ!
Andrea
Cara Andrea noi ti pensiamo tanto. Sei una ragazza straordinaria ed il Signore ti sarà sempre accanto. Ognuno di noi porta una croce, ma lo facciamo per amore di Gesù. Ti vogliamo bene. Sabina, Alice e famiglia
Translation:
Dear Andrea us think of you so much. You’re an amazing girl and the Lord will always be beside you. Each of us carries a cross, but we do it for the love of Jesus We love you. Sabina, Alice and family
Dearest Sabina,
Perhaps I will make it back sometime!
Yes, that is God’s promise for each one of His children: He will Never leave us! And He never has!
Carry the love of Christ with you, and you will always find your burden light!
Wishing I was back in Italy!
Much love!
Andrea
Dear Andrea!
I just returned home from Haiti and read your blog post. You are one amazing woman! We cannot thank you enough for what the Andrea Miller Foundation has done for Sonlight Ministries in Port-de-Paix, Haiti. This semester, one of our 7th graders, Lindsay had a thyroidectomy due to a toxic goiter that was harming her heart and eye sight. She is recovering quite well. Thank you for showing the world what a genuine faith in Christ is!
Blessings-
Beth
Dear Beth,
I read your updates that you send me from Haiti! It is so wonderful to hear that things are going well there! I am so glad that the AMF can help. Changing the world, Beth, one soul at a time!
I hope we can continue to help the children in Haiti!
Our hardships seem so small when we see our brothers and sisters suffering. I keep my faith strong, and my God close!
God bless, Always!
Love,
Andrea
You r really an inspirational woman and I hope u have many yrs of improved health and peace of mind.