The sound of birds singing on a spring day. A quick hug from a loved one. Hands wrapped around a warm cup of coffee on a cold morning. For many of us, these small moments usually come and go without fanfare or recognition.
But for those living with or caring for a loved one with glioblastoma (GBM), a complex and often aggressive form of brain cancer, “ordinary” everyday life activities become precious moments that bring comfort, peace and maybe even joy.
To recognize these meaningful moments, Novocure established “Extra in the Ordinary,” an invitation to celebrate the resilience of people living with GBM and their care partners. The initiative features individuals with GBM and their care partners sharing personal reflections about how they find joy and happiness in the seemingly regular parts of each day.
Contributors are also sharing the challenging realities of living with GBM – both emotional and physical – in the hopes of helping others going through similar experiences to feel less alone.
These stories will be featured on a Facebook page supported by Novocure, In This Together. Novocure invites the brain tumor community to share their own “extra-ordinary” moments along with daily experiences – good, bad, or even just okay – on their own terms.
I want to be able to say at the end of the day, yes to at least one of three questions: One, have I learned? Two, have I created? Three, and this one's the most important to me, have I been useful? If I can say yes to just one of those things, that's a good day.—Eric, living with glioblastoma
It’s estimated that there are 15,000 new cases of glioblastoma in the U.S. each year, and glioblastoma accounts for 49.1 percent of all primary malignant brain tumors. Elevating the voices of individuals living with glioblastoma is essential because it gives hope and shows that even during difficulty, there is still beauty and joy that can be found in life.
At Novocure, many of us have the privilege of interacting with individuals living with GBM and their caregivers. Our interactions with the glioblastoma community are always extraordinary to us, and we are grateful to be a part of their journey.
We hope you’ll take a moment today and listen to these patients’ words – their “extra in the ordinary” – and share your thoughts on the In this Together Facebook page.
