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Ten years ago, we heard the words 'You have brain cancer'. Up to that point, I had lived life to the fullest. I took Tang Su Do, a form of karate, 3 times a week. I was on a competitive Hip Hop Dance team. I played basketball and was about to start Tennis. I was just like you. I could do all those things - and more. I was active in sports and loved them all. That was taken away from me because I developed a brain tumor. I was given less than a 15% chance to live.
I was diagnosed with an Anaplastic Medulloblastoma - a brain tumor - just 9 days after my 7th birthday. I had emergency brain surgery within 36 hours. My family had to watch me be wheeled into the operating room. This was the beginning of the hardest time of our lives. They didn’t know what to expect, but we had to remove the tumor. It was the size of a golf ball at the base of my brain. If we didn't remove it, more damage would be done to my brain or body.
I didn't wake up for 3 days. When I did wake up, life looked very different for me. I couldn’t walk. I had developed ataxia and could not sit up, feed myself or even move the left side of my body. I lost the use of the right side of my face to facial palsy and developed double vision. All the things I could do before, including playing sports, I could no longer do. Instead of going to school, playing with friends, going to the park or doing chores, I was stuck in the hospital.
I had to live in the hospital during my chemotherapy and radiation. I had to do physical therapy sessions to relearn how to throw a ball and walk up stairs. I had occupational therapy to remember how to use a pencil and scissors. I had vision therapy to learn to read and bring my right eye back to the front. For a year and a half, I went back and forth between hospitals, home and therapy.
Sometimes we would go to a store or restaurant and people would stare. I was bald due to chemotherapy and radiation treatments. I couldn’t walk like everyone else. And now I had a crooked smile.
I was UNIQUE. Adults stared. Kids stared. People did not accept me. So I started to hang my head and not look at people. After awhile, my Mom said, "Smile at them. Show them YOU because a smile is a gift that warms the heart."
When I needed it most some of my friends and family turned away. They didn’t understand and couldn’t put their feelings aside to help motivate or encourage my family and me. Instead they didn’t visit me at the hospital or at home.
My nickname was Rock Star because I loved music. I wanted something that represented me, but even more so, could encompass us all.
I was diagnosed with an Anaplastic Medulloblastoma - a brain tumor - just 9 days after my 7th birthday. I had emergency brain surgery within 36 hours. My family had to watch me be wheeled into the operating room. This was the beginning of the hardest time of our lives. They didn’t know what to expect, but we had to remove the tumor. It was the size of a golf ball at the base of my brain. If we didn't remove it, more damage would be done to my brain or body.
I didn't wake up for 3 days. When I did wake up, life looked very different for me. I couldn’t walk. I had developed ataxia and could not sit up, feed myself or even move the left side of my body. I lost the use of the right side of my face to facial palsy and developed double vision. All the things I could do before, including playing sports, I could no longer do. Instead of going to school, playing with friends, going to the park or doing chores, I was stuck in the hospital.
I had to live in the hospital during my chemotherapy and radiation. I had to do physical therapy sessions to relearn how to throw a ball and walk up stairs. I had occupational therapy to remember how to use a pencil and scissors. I had vision therapy to learn to read and bring my right eye back to the front. For a year and a half, I went back and forth between hospitals, home and therapy.
Sometimes we would go to a store or restaurant and people would stare. I was bald due to chemotherapy and radiation treatments. I couldn’t walk like everyone else. And now I had a crooked smile.
I was UNIQUE. Adults stared. Kids stared. People did not accept me. So I started to hang my head and not look at people. After awhile, my Mom said, "Smile at them. Show them YOU because a smile is a gift that warms the heart."
When I needed it most some of my friends and family turned away. They didn’t understand and couldn’t put their feelings aside to help motivate or encourage my family and me. Instead they didn’t visit me at the hospital or at home.
My nickname was Rock Star because I loved music. I wanted something that represented me, but even more so, could encompass us all.
I have decided to use my experiences to help others. My dad and I started to post videos for other kids and families going through similar treatment. Over 1700 children with the same type of tumor have come together on a site to talk, share, and learn about what they can do to help each other.
This is who I am for the rest of my life. I want to spread awareness about the hardships of cancer. I want to help. Many people don't realize that globally there are more than 300,000 children diagnosed with cancer every year. Some of them don't make it. I hope to be a part of a community that can motivate everyone to Never Ever Give Up.