There's Something Going On Upstairs: Learning to Laugh My Way through a Cancerous Brain Tumor, One Chemo Cycle at a Time

Featured in numerous publications, including Sharing Mayo Clinic; CaringBridge, the Caregiver Action Network; and The Musella Foundation for Brain Tumor Research & Information.

Inhale courage, exhale fear.

With a next-to-nonexistent medical file, Kelly Fosso Rodenberg thought she must have a pinched nerve when her left hand started losing strength and agility. However, the neurologist examining her suspected there was "something going on upstairs," and brain scans revealed the existence of a golf ball-sized, malignant tumor nestled above her right ear. Rather than hosting a bunco party that fateful evening, Kelly and her husband were scrambling to make life-and-death decisions for a disease about which they knew absolutely nothing.

Despite the dire statistics associated with her Glioblastoma--Grade 4 diagnosis, Kelly chooses to focus on hope, humor, and happiness. Sure, life with a fast-growing, terminal brain tumor can be tough, but this farm girl is even tougher. Having experienced both sides of the coin--as caregiver for her husband during his battle with a rare medical condition, and now as caregivee in her own hot mess express--Kelly is all about sharing her experiences in hopes of helping and encouraging others.

There's Something Going On Upstairs is an uplifting story of faith and perseverance, richly informative and inspiring for anyone dealing with a personal crisis. Can the diagnosis of a cancerous brain tumor actually be a gift? Let Kelly count the ways.

Kelly Fosso Rodenberg is a life-long Minnesotan. She grew up on farms near Raymond and Pennock in the west central part of the state, and she currently resides in Chaska, a small city close to Minneapolis-St. Paul. Overly organized, detail-oriented, and calendar-driven, she excelled as an executive administration assistant at companies including W.R. Maleckar, UnitedHealthcare, and DTN before her medical condition forced her into "early retirement." Now she is learning to navigate life with a brain tumor, focusing on the good vs. bad, the joy vs. sorrow. Kelly is passionate about motivating every cancer warrior, survivor, caregiver, and well-intentioned soul out there. A share of the proceeds from her memoir will benefit brain tumor research.