I was diagnosed with a frontal lobe brain tumor in the early 2020s and was informed that this tumor had been present at my birth and causes epileptic seizures. This diagnosis helps to explain many events in my life. I have had trouble with learning and with behavior.
The location of my tumor affects the part of the brain that is responsible for executive functioning, such as making decisions, reasoning, and impulse control. In my elementary school years, my parents found tutors, especially for math and language, and my mom helped me with homework. Other parts of my brain compensate for the affected area. I memorize information and guess.
I lived in a political system that inflicted mind genocide. This impacted my family, and we all experienced a form of PTSD. For me, the already affected frontal lobe made the PTSD experience more pronounced. In my early teens, I went to live with my mother’s relatives. I went to high school and, later, to university. I spent a lot of time studying, making notes, and going for walks while having difficulty with socializing. After graduation, I found myself struggling to translate theoretical knowledge into practical. I choose to volunteer.
Art forms such as writing poetry, painting, and coloring are close to my heart. I am married, and my husband and I have a teen daughter. My brain tumor and the symptoms it causes make it difficult for me to parent. My husband has a diagnosis that also makes it difficult to parent. Our lovely daughter is being parented by our extended family.
