Page 8 The Advocate News (Wilton-Durant, Iowa) Thursday, November 22, 2012

OpiniOn

Help Laura Win

* March, 2012Laura had a second brain surgery at Mayo and then began a new course of chemotherapy. * April, 2012An MRI showed Lauras tumor was back for a third time and she began receiving a new form of chemotherapy. * May, 2012Tests showed her tumor had doubled in size. * July, 2012Laura had her third brain he above passage was a portion of what Laura (Brammeier) Yoho wrote in my surgery. * September, 2012Lauras tumor came 2000 Wilton High School yearbook during our senior year. To be honest, I never back for the fourth time. She then stayed at had very many people sign my yearbooks Mayo for two more weeks of radiation. Since March of 2011, Laura has had three over the years but Laura always insisted on brain surgeries, two rounds of radiation and has doing so. While Ill bet she may not remember writing been taking different forms of chemotherapy on the words above, I have to say that Ive thought a consistent basis. To say its been a whirlwind about them a lot during the past 12 years. Even two years would be an understatement. Miraculously, Laura continued to work more so during the last four, as Ive had this weekly soapbox. When you write a weekly through much of her treatment. She stepped column, you open yourself up for pats on the down from management at Aspen but continued to train clients. However, back and some What were after her third surgery, shes you thinking? kinds of taken a leave from Aspen. notes/emails. Always thinking of others, So I often think about her Laura realized that not being words and wonder if perhaps there on a consistent basis she knew something I didnt was tough for her clients, back then. Did she know that who rely on the relationsome day Id be speaking By Derek Sawvell ship to help them meet their my mind to our hometown fitness goals. Yet she also audience? I digress. But lastly, to Laura Id say, yes I needed to do it for herself. I just needed some time, said Laura. Time do remember giving you a ride home every day and youre right, I did enjoy your company! to be stress free and just enjoy my time. From the beginning, shes been undeterred. Her birthday was in March so she was one of the last in our class to turn 16. From October She wasnt satisfied with originally being diagto March I would give her a ride home from nosed as having a stroke. Why would I have school every day and shed fill me in on the a stroke? I didnt believe it. When it comes to your health, its your body, said Laura with daily happenings within the high school. The daughter of Doug and Lenore Bram- regard to meeting with several doctors while meier of Wilton, Laura, 29, was always very trying to find answers. While dealing with a brain tumor, frustrataware of what was going on in school. She was also opinionated, funny, articulate, pretty, ing wouldnt begin to describe how its felt admired and well liked all of which still to have to endure three brain surgeries and a changing drug regiment. But brain cancer and apply today. She was also very conscious of health and its treatment is ever-evolving, something that fitness, which carried over to her college career Laura knows all too well. Every time (Ive had surgery) theyve taken as she graduated from St. Ambrose University in 2005 with a degree in fitness and human per- 100 percent of visible tumor but theres little formance. After college, she was immediately fingers you can't see. Thats why it keeps hired by Aspen Athletic Clubs and worked as coming back, she said. She also said that research has recently shown a trainer in Cedar Rapids. She quickly worked her way into a management position and moved that patients can have repeat radiation. Theyve to Des Moines in 2007 to help manage a new just done studies and found this out so who knows? I just got done with that (second round Aspen club. It was there she met Nate Yoho, a trainer at of radiation) six weeks ago, said Laura. Shes the Des Moines club. The two began dating in currently waiting to see if the latest radiation 2008 and on Nov. 5, 2010, Nate proposed to helped in stunting or shrinking her tumor. Theres a lot of scar tissue in my brain so Laura while they were on a morning jog. They instantly made plans for an August, 2011 wed- that, coupled with fluid in the brain, they dont know if it helped or not, said Laura. Its a ding. battle I have to work with right now. Im sure many of you read that timeline above Tumultuous 21 months In March of 2011, Laura was working out and thought, What about her wedding? Nate and suddenly began having strange feelings. She and Laura never wavered en route to their wedwas unable to count reps while doing different ding day. In fact, Laura got done with radiation exercises. She then began using an elliptical a week before her wedding and was still taking machine and attempted to look at a magazine chemotherapy when she and Nate were married but couldnt read the words. She decided to Aug. 13, 2011. She looked beautiful! You learn a lot from it, said Laura of her rest and laid down. She then passed out for an undetermined amount of time. When she awoke, she went home and dialed 911, having a hard time forming sentences when talking to the operator. Perhaps the easiest way to explain what happened next is to give a brief timeline of the past 21 months: * March, 2011Laura blacked out after a workout and had trouble reading and forming sentences. She was originally diagnosed with having a stroke. * April, 2011After meeting with a handful of other doctors searching for second opinions, an MRI showed that Laura had a cancerous brain tumor. * May, 2011Laura had surgery to remove her brain tumor at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. She then began receiving radiation and Laura is shown above with her husband chemotherapy treatments. * February, 2012An MRI showed that Nate Yoho at the couple's wedding reher tumor came back. hearsal dinner. Remember back in the day when I couldnt drive and I bugged you for a ride home every day?! Sorry about that. Youre such a nice guy and I know you enjoyed my company. I have always admired you for one thing, you always speak your mind no matter who is around and I think thats awesome!

Case in Point

Laura (Brammeier) Yoho, 29, a 2001 Wilton High School graduate, is shown above (with mother Lenore in the background) preparing for a chemotherapy treatment. Laura has been battling a cancerous brain tumor for nearly two years. Contributed photos
diagnosis. I went to work and did everything normally. I go on with regular life. I pretend like everything is just fine and it really helps I try not to realize whats actually happening. If I were to take it all in it would make me worse. At this point, Lauras doctors at Mayo have done all they can and all forms of treatment have been exhausted. She receives a new MRI every six weeks to see whats going on with her tumor. I asked if she could possibly have a fourth surgery. She said due to her age and health, her doctors say she could endure another surgery but theyd like her to try and wait at least a year in order for her to have a break. The operating area is also very close to her speech center. One slip and I could never talk again, said Laura. Its also close to the area that controls motor function on the right side (of my body). Her focus now has shifted to taking part in clinical trials for patients dealing with brain tumors. Help Laura Win Planning for clinical studies is like entering another world of unknowns for Laura. They occur all over the country and if admitted to one, she may have to travel to another part of the U.S. for an extended period of time. Thats why we started fundraising, she said. Laura and Nate held a benefit in Des Moines (where they reside) to help begin the process.Yet they have family and friends from other parts of the nation who also wanted to help. Therefore, one of Nates cousins created a fundraising page for Laura on the website GiveForward.com. The page, aptly titled Help Laura Win can be found at http://www.giveforward.com/ cancer-fundraiser/helplaurawin. There, visitors can not only make a donation, they can read a synopsis of Lauras ongoing battle with brain cancer. They can also see photos of Laura and Nate. There are also links to a Facebook page, Show Love for Laura and some YouTube videos that feature Nates proposal to Laura and the couples heartwarming video diary they shared at their wedding. Help Laura Win has a target of $100,000 and thus far, the site has raised $15,350 many of the donations have come from her hometown. There have been so many people from Wilton who have donated. Its amazing, said Laura. You dont know how many people whose lives youve touched. Its overwhelming. Thats why its great to be from a small town. When I contacted Laura to ask if I could tell her story, she sent me a text message that said Long time no see! In fact its probably one time in 10 years. Id love to talk! She may have been right, we hadnt seen each other much during the last decade. I was looking forward to talking with her on the phone.

Laura is shown above with her husband, Nate Yoho, on the morning he proposed to her (Nov. 5, 2010). Nate had an artist paint a picture of Laura's engagement ring, which he hung from a tree along a route the couple commonly ran. While on a morning jog, he popped the question upon Laura discovering the painting. They were married Aug. 13, 2011.
But she surprised me when she said shed be home in a couple days for Thanksgiving. We were actually able to meet last weekend and it was wonderful to see her and catch up! Thats what Laura does. Shell surprise you! While the task in front of her is daunting and the future path is unknown in terms of treatment, take it from me that she is fighting this battle head-on. I strongly believe everything is going to be just fine for me, said Laura. These are different learning experiences Ive dealt with. I realize how many blessings I have now and have had my whole life. The odds arent good but I tell myself Im going to be that one person to help someone else. I want my story to help them. Shes taken her health further into her own hands by continuing to work out every day. Shes also on an organic diet and she takes several supplements daily as she wants to be as healthy as I possibly can. Her strength also carries over to her family. In fact, its contagious. She stays strong. She remains confident. She stays on course. Shes the rock her family depends on. Im glad it actually happened to me. I can deal with it. Everyone else in my family would just not handle it, said Laura. The No. 1 thing is being positive and working out, and nutrition has helped tremendously. Your regular routine is what you do. I feel strong. I feel healthy. I feel great.