About Me
My name is Angel Landry(previously Angel Portier) and I was born on January 15, 1984. I live on a small island called Amelia Island, Fl., but most of us call it Fernandina Beach. I have lived here all of my life and so have both of my parent's. I have a younger brother named Rowdy, but everyone says our parent's got our names backwards. He's shy and quiet and I'm loud and well...bi&*hy. My parent's divorced my sophomore year of high school which was hard on both my brother and I. I haven't spoke to my dad much since then. It's hard to reason w/ an alcoholic, so I quit trying. All through high school I had severe migraines...or so the Dr.'s thought. In December 2002, I decided to go to a neurologist here in town and she too diagnosed me w/ migraines. Yet not a single Dr. had done any tests. On January 05, 2003 I finally talked my neurologist into sending me in for an MRI. The results came in a few days later and there was a "spot" on my brain. The neurologist said there was nothing to worry about...there was NO WAY it was a brain tumor, I had no symptoms!!! I have never been so sick to my stomach in my life. I was then sent to Jacksonville, Fl where I went through many very painful tests. I had a spinal tap(OUCH), full body MRI, Arterial Gram(almost more pain than I could handle), Nerve Conduction tests and an EEG and they also tested me for aids. After 2 weeks in Jacksonville I was transferred to Shands at The University of Florida, in Gainesville. I met w/a neurosurgeon(Dr. Friedman) and as soon as he saw my MRI scans he said "BRAIN TUMOR...CANCEROUS...BIOPSY TOMORROW". So on February 03, 2003 I had a Stereotactic Brain Biopsy performed. They had to place a surgical "halo" on my head which is a metal ring screwed to your head in 4 different places to guide the drill to the exact spot of the tumor. I got the results from the biopsy on February 13, 2003. I'd have to say that this was the worst day of my life. I had a Grade 3/4 Anaplastic Astrocytoma. B/C the tumor is in my lower left thalamus they could not operate. To high of a risk of paralization. On March 04, 2003 I began chemotherapy and radiation treatment. I took 2 different chemo. treatments, Temodar and Vepesid(VP16). I did 19 months of chemo. and 6 weeks of radiation(5 days a week). Talk about being SICK!!!:( On April 08, 2003 I had Stereotactic Radiosurgery which is basically 6 wks of radiation in one dose. To perform the Radiosurgery they had to place the surgical "halo" on my head again. I had MRI's monthly to moniter the tumor. B/C of the chemo. and radiation, I lost my hair, eyebrows, and even my eyelashes. I think the hardest part was having my hair fall out in clumps. Million's of Dr.'s appointments, MRI's, Radiation treatments, ambulance trips, chemotherapy treatments, bloodwork appointments, and physical therapy appointments later I'm still here. The Dr.'s didn't expect me to live longer than a year, but I am still here by the GRACE OF GOD!!! My Mama and my husband were there w/ me through everything. My dad came to one Dr.'s appointment and I think he came to see me once in the hospital. It used to bother me but I want to enjoy life because you never know what might happen tomorrow. I met my husband, Shawn Landry 8 years ago and we got married on May 28, 2005. He is my life. Everything a girl would ever want in a man. He would do anything for me and he loves me unconditionally. Most guys would have taken off after everything I have been through. Because of the radiation my brain started to swell and it was pushing against my skull so they had to start me on the steroid treatment. I blew up like a balloon. (I went from 105 lbs. to 165 lbs. in about a month.) Not very sexy but he didn't care because he loves me. I'm about 110lbs. now which is really exciting!!! Rowdy gave me away at our wedding!! It was one of the best days of my life. Shawn has hung in here w/ me through everything and I love him all the more for that. I had many friends and family share this part of my life w/ me, and I also lost many friends. I guess I found out who my true friends were and they know who they are. Shawn and I bought a house on the island in 2005. We completely gutted it and redid the whole thing. It was a lot of work but it was worth it. It's ours and we love it. We have three dogs(2 pitbulls and a boxer), Buzz, Gabby and Mama Red and they are our life. We don't want kids...at least not in the next 5-10 years so they keep us very busy. Buzz our boxer is a complete Mama's boy. When I was going through all of my treatment I was extremely sick and he could sense it. He wouldn't leave my side(and still doesn't). He was always good w/ people until I got sick. Now he doesn't want anyone getting anywhere near me( sorry Grandaddy). Maybe one day we will decide to have kids but no time soon. We are still young and want to have fun.
