Left-Handed Resilience

When I was thirteen years old, I was rushed to the hospital for two emergency brain tumor resection surgeries. My brain was scrambled, and my right side was affected. However, after six months of intense physical, speech, and occupational therapy, I was able to return to school with the appropriate accommodations. I graduated with a 4.0 GPA as part of the National Honor Society. 

I went to college and graduate school to achieve a bachelor’s and master’s degree in biochemistry. Currently, I work as a technical writer, and I maintain a blog where I write about my experiences as a person with a physical disability and a rewired brain. I strive to show that despite having a disability, I still contribute in a meaningful way. I want other people with disabilities and brain tumors and people without disabilities to know that.

My life changed drastically. I had to relearn how to do everything with my left hand (I was originally right-handed). Having a brain tumor changes everything, and it is unfortunately easy to live in denial. Because I had to relearn everything, I spent many years in survivalist mode. I learned that everyone is on their own learning journey, and it’s foolish to compare oneself to others. After having brain surgery, I had to modify how I approached nearly everything.

TAGGED WITH: astrocytoma

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