Courage + Believe = Life!

Courage + Believe = Life!

CJ

I was only 3. I didn’t know what was going on, My parents did though. Just another sunny day, but it turned black when I was diagnosed with a Pilocytic Astrocytoma located on my brain stem. Why? No one knows. There I was a week later enduring almost 24 hours of surgery. The tumor was not gone. I was just 10 years old when I had my first seizure, and the tumor did reoccur. After another 8 hours of surgery, and having to battle temporary paralysis, I came out of surgery with no tumor left, and I got to live my life as a normal teenager. I had my up and downs, more downs it seems some days, But I am finally living my dream. I left my comfort zone in the north, and moved 800 miles south to chase my dream of NASCAR. I now live near the town with the biggest names that racing has to offer. I stand tall everyday, Some day with tear filled eyes, but I stand tall. To whoever is having to battle these terrible tumors, Pediatric, or not, NEVER GIVE UP! Fight that tumor till you have nothing left, Never let the tumor get the best of you. Some days you might want to give everything up, but never do because when you come out, You will be amongst the strongest human beings the world has to offer!

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