Leah Lubbehusen

My name is Leah Lubbehusen, and this is my story...

It was April 2009, and I had a seizure. My husband took me to our local ER, where they performed a CAT scan and saw something concerning, so they followed it with an MRI. The doctors told me that, best-case scenario, it was just some sort of swelling on my brain. Middle to worst-case scenario, it could be MS—or worst-case, a brain tumor.

They transferred me by ambulance to St. Vincent’s (formerly St. Mary’s). Once there, Dr. Mark Cobb came to my room and explained that it looked like a low-grade glioma in my left frontal lobe, near my motor cortex—about the size of a golf ball. He scheduled me for surgery the following week.

That week was filled with a wedding, Easter, my daughter’s 18-month photos, more MRIs, and trying to live as normally as possible.

The morning of surgery, my husband and I had a flat tire. I remember thinking, If this is the kind of luck I’m going to have today, I’m not having brain surgery! But after a ten-hour surgery, two nights in the hospital, and three months off work—everything was good.

Then, in August 2014, during a routine scan, we discovered the tumor had returned—this time the size of the tip of Dr. Cobb’s pinky. Dr. Cobb, who had moved to Vanderbilt in Tennessee, performed another surgery that lasted eight hours. My recovery this time was much quicker.

In July of the following year, the tumor returned again. This time, it was lighting up even more on the MRI, which meant it was becoming more aggressive. It wasn’t in a good spot for surgery, so I went through six weeks of radiation and began taking the chemo pill Temodar.

I continued with Temodar until a scan in September 2018 showed the tumor was growing again, and there was another spot. My oncologist, Dr. Stephens, referred me to a neuro-oncologist at Vanderbilt, but they didn’t accept my insurance.

After a month of trying to work that out—and as my symptoms worsened—a dear friend of mine, a nurse practitioner in oncology at Mayo Clinic in Arizona, helped get me into Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.

I now receive Avastin infusions every two weeks and take the Lomustine pill every 6 to 8 weeks, depending on my blood counts. I’ve been traveling to Mayo Clinic every 6 to 8 weeks per their request, but I’m able to do the treatments at OHA.

This April 9 marks ten years since my first diagnosis, and in that time, I’ve learned to appreciate the small things and live every second. I’ve been blessed with the very best support from my family, church family, friends, and coworkers. I’m so grateful to God for blessing me far more than I deserve.

I’ve been married to my husband, Luke, for 15 years this August. We have an amazing daughter, Lexi, who has been my rock through it all.

My family and I cannot thank CourtStrong enough for this honor. Shon has been so kind through everything. I knew Courtney from school, and her sister Wendy and I are friends.

I’m also grateful for every doctor, nurse, and therapist I’ve met along this journey. I know this is all part of God’s plan for me (and I’m hoping this fourth time’s the charm :))!

I’ll leave you with the Bible verse that is my testimony:

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to give you hope and a future.” – Jeremiah 29:11

God bless!

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