“Like other GBM patients I was expected to live for 12-18 months,” she wrote in her caption. “In the wake of that news I had many dark thoughts including that I wouldn’t see my son’s 2nd birthday let alone him starting school, but I’m lucky enough to say I did! And no one can take that away from me.”

Burrell had undergone a second brain surgery in January and, at the time of her post, was dealing with side effects such as loss of some peripheral vision while preparing for a scan to check on any disease progression.

“Of course the next scan looms but I’ve dug deep and found a new bit of determination (which does not always come easy) to say to the GBM ‘I will not give up,’” she wrote. “Whatever the results, I’ll take stock, trust my oncologist and go from there.”

And like in many of her updates, Burrell made sure to provide hope and connection to anyone else navigating glioblastoma.

“So if you’re in the brain cancer world along with me – you’re not alone and we’ve just got to take it slowly but surely,” she wrote. “Every day we make is a bit of a win for us and a ‘GET LOST!’ to the illness!”