Ep. 84 - Birthday Highs and Lows - Ep 84 on 8.4 While Turning 42

Episode 84 Recap: aka 42 is the Answer

So, apparently the answer to life, the universe, and everything… is: a brain tumor, a cat named Milk, and a birthday bingo prize basket with Desitin and creatine in it.

This wasn’t the morning I hoped for. After months of navigating this whole brain tumor diagnosis, I met with a lawyer and found out I missed the statute of limitations to take legal action by three months. Three months too late to hold the ENT accountable for missing the tumor on my 2020 MRI. It was a gut-punch. Like, you want to scream at the clock. Or at the ENT. Or both.

But instead of rage-posting or shutting down, I talked it out. 

I recorded a solo pod in my backyard with Milk on my chest and the birds chirping around me. I reflected on:

• How long I’ve lived with symptoms like constant fatigue, social confusion, and not being able to breathe through my damn nose.
• How AFib led to a seizure which led to Tommy the Tumor being discovered—a guest who's apparently been living rent-free in my head since at least 2020.
• How exhausting it is to advocate for yourself in a medical system that expects you to know how to shout through layers of red tape and indifference.
• And how surreal and infuriating it is to learn that someone saw the mass on your brain five years ago and said nothing. Not even a referral. Just: “There’s not much I can do for you.”

Despite all that, I still found some peace in the chaos like Milk sneaking in through the catio to cuddle, birds sounding like tiny cheerleaders, and gearing up to celebrate my 42nd with snacks, bingo, good people, and a live podcast recording in my backyard.

This episode is me trying to balance heartbreak with humor, grief with gratitude.
 I shout out Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, I reflect on why sarcasm never quite landed for me, and I ask some real questions about how to keep going when the world doesn’t play fair.

What are your favorite birthday memories? Because even if things don’t go to plan, you still get to celebrate your existence.

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