Louisiana man beats the odds in battle against glioblastoma

John Bienvenu was only 28 years old, with an 8-month-old, when all the certainty he had in his life vanished. He faced his diagnosis by deciding to live life fully. David Begnaud has the story.

#louisiana #glioblastoma #health

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[mellowyellowmom]

My brother died of that exact brain cancer. He didn’t eat sugar, he worked on balancing his PH levels, he ate healthy foods and lived another 5 years. I’m so glad he had those extra years!

[NS-xtwv]

This man is so lucky, he has such a large, beautiful family, no wonder he wants to live! And I hope he will!

[ivanfairweather]

It wasn't the story I expected. However, it was the one I needed today. Even through the flood of tears. Bless them all.

[skyworks]

I hope he gets to live to see his son get married and have his family 🙏. I know how hard it is. I fought for 10 years with little hope, and now live a happy life.

[ROLEX]

He's getting up there into the exceptional category of survival with GBM. My first husband died 12 weeks after diagnosis and surgery for GBM debulkment, at age 30, in 1989. Prayers as the fight continues. 🙏

[mikethespike]

My Brother Ralph was diagnosed with GBM at 50 the doctors said he had less than two years he made it four years and passed away when he was 54 . It has been one of the hardest things I 've had to endure. You have a turn in this life and it's that simple . So this is a good story for all of us. Peace out.

[debbiesday]

My dad passed away from GBM. I'm so excited that John has made it this far. I pray he has many more amazing years ahead.

[teenyverse]

This is a miracle... bless his family and him.

[brendapeterson]

This Man is very lucky !! My Husband died from Glioblastoma in 2018 after a 15 month battle. I am so happy for him and his family.😊

[ravenscry]

What a wonderful family and a wonderful story. My brother was diagnosed with a Stage IV glioblastoma in 2016. His wasn't operable and he lived for 6 months. Many blessings to you and your entire family.

[delia_watercolors]

A beauitful story!!!
I experienced a similar experience at age 27. I had doctors at Mount Sinai, Sloan and Cornell Hospital (some of the best 3 hospitals for AML Leukemia in the WORLD) tell me I had arouns 6 months to live, and to arrange my hospice care. All three opinions gave me 6 months.


I arranged my hospice care, priced and planned funeral costs, had talks with my mother.

By chance, I met a different doctor at Mount Sinai who told me she saw my past as a sign I was a real survivor in my heart

So here I am, age 32, in remission with a transplant my body 100% accepted, now dealing with all the side effects of treatment but- HERE spending time with my family planning my graduate degree studies!

[jackbrown]

I'm happy for him and his family, I myself have been fighting T-4 bladder cancer since October 5th 2018, when the doctors told me I had 1.5 years to live. I said NO to chemotherapy and radiation treatments as well as major surgery. I only let them remove the tumor. October 5th 2023 will be five years, have I beat it? or cured it? I don't know, but I'm still here.

[gbecks]

Crying before coffee 😭 so happy he made it.

[marylynnacee]

David..you find & tell the best stories in such a beautiful & genuine way. Because of this, this family will receive even more love & prayers. Thank you!❤

[iowegian]

Inspiring story. My sis is going through a debilitating illness right now. Then she unexpectedly had to have brain surgery. As a large, close family, we would have picnics, go to movies... You drop everything to please the ill member of your family. Anything to make it better for them. Love gets you through alot.

[Pougie]

In reality, what probably helped him was having access to the best health care, as he comes from a prominent family who is wealthy and had a brother and father who were in medicine. Access and wealth are key to getting the best care. I know ppl with means hate that ppl bring up their privilege and rather say that it is down to their "faith", but the reality is it is very important to have access, privilege and wealth.

[MrMann]

My mother died 5 months after her diagnosis of GBM. The surgeries were super intrusive. A lot of damage was done to her brain function.
Bless him and his family. He is definitely a miracle.

[tandemteachingmoments]

At 65, my dad was diagnosed with Stage 4 Glioblastoma and given 2-4 months to live. He lived 6 years. After his diagnosis, I, of course, googled any survivors and found a few, one of which was 27 years outside his diagnosis. SO, there IS hope. There's always hope. I'll be sending my prayers John's way for at least another 30 years for him, and by that time, maybe we'll have a cure. ❤

[MelissaLowy]

I am 3 years out from my diagnosis so far

[kimfauth]

I lost my Dad(6 months) and my sister(13 months) to this horrible disease. He is by far one of the lucky ones. Just an FYI - MD Anderson is doing an experimental treatment using polio to try to break through the blood barrier to fight this disease. My sister and our family reminded me of John. She was such an amazing person and it was devastating to our family to watch her die.