Aldenstrong

My name is Joseph Alden Pratt. I go by Alden. I am 24 years old and currently in therapy, working on a full recovery. I live at home with my mom and dad, who are my full-time caregivers. I am from South Carolina. 

I learned sign language as a better form of communication. I love music, I enjoy my dogs, I enjoy watching game shows, I love to play games, I enjoy art, and I enjoy going to the lake. I am thankful to be here and that I can be an inspiration to others.

Although I cannot talk, I can fully communicate and understand. I was taught the spelling board for communication while at the Shepherd Center in Atlanta, Georgia. At this time, I am in a wheelchair and have a feeding tube and trach.

In 2017, when I was 18 years old, just starting college at USC in Columbia, SC, I was diagnosed with an ependymoma brain tumor. My tumor was a grade II. Following surgery to remove the tumor, I suffered a traumatic brain injury due to internal bleeding and strokes. After being in a coma and spending four months in the PICU, through God’s grace, I was discharged to the Shepherd’s Center in Atlanta for rehabilitation. 

At that time, I was still considered minimally conscious. The doctors did not believe I would wake up. I am a miracle. During my stay there, I emerged to a conscious state. I started physical, occupational, and speech therapy. After three months, I was discharged home, where I started home health physical, occupational, and speech therapy. 

After working hard with home health, my PT felt it was time for more intense therapy. I was recommended to start outpatient therapy. After a year, my physical therapist there recommended a therapy break. During this time, my parents started looking for a new therapy place. My mom discovered a therapy place online when she read the story; she knew it would be a great place for me. Unfortunately, the Covid pandemic prevented me from starting. 

After over a year without any therapy, I began my new journey with therapy. In November 2020, I started with PT and OT. I am 24 years old now and continuing my recovery. I communicate by spelling and sign language. I am working on unassisted sitting & standing and learning to walk again. I also practice rolling myself around in my wheelchair. I use my iPad, Lingraphica, and a large keyboard to type.

Although the recovery ahead is still long, I have family, friends, and therapists who believe in me and my recovery. Each of my therapists works hard for me and finds ways to challenge me to become stronger every day. I really enjoy going to therapy! Many prayers have been answered over this journey

TAGGED WITH: brain tumor patients, Ependymoma

Opinions expressed within this story belong solely to the author and do not reflect the views or opinions of the National Brain Tumor Society.