While cheering at her middle school basketball game our 12 year old daughter Megan was hit in the head with a basketball. She complained of dizziness so we were urged to take her to the ER just as a precaution to check for a concussion.
After taking a CT scan the doctor ima husband & myself that she had discovered a Mass the size of a lemon on the base of Megans brain. Next thing you know we found ourselves at Barrows in Phoenix , where we met Dr Robert Spetzler who would be Megan’s brain surgeon. After 9 hours of surgery we were told the tumor was out . It was explained to us the type of tumor Megan had an Astrocytoma Grade 1 . Megan endured 13 days in the hospital and required 6 months of out patient rehab due to double vision , left side paralysis , cognitive and speech impairment.
While enduring all this she contacted the swine flu and struggled to regain her strength. After making a comeback, getting strong and healthy the following year we learned the tumor had grown back . While my husband and I cried as to how we were going to break the news to our daughter, Megan overheard us and said “ I got through it before and I’ll get through it again!” And that she did , with that last surgery Megan was ready to go home in 4 days ! That was almost 16 years ago ( 16 years this December) .
Megan is 28 years old now and although she still deals with migraines , left side weakness , vision and concentration issues she lets nothing stop her ! Her oldest brother dubbed her “ Mighty Mouse” because he said she is tiny but mighty & she sure is ! She holds an AA degree and a bachelor’s degree , she has just completed Esthetician school and is already running her own business ! And she is getting married this December 5th (She chose that date because she always says it’s the day she got her life back – tumor was discovered) to the love of her life Matt ! MEGAN is why we GO GRAY IN MAY !!
Megan’s life changed forever because we were told the type of tumor she has ASTROCYTOMA is slow growing & could grow back . Even after 16 years Megan must go for CT scans every 2 years at the advice of her doctor.
It is where our information came from. It gave us the support we so desperately needed not knowing what we were dealing with.
We wear Gray for our Megan and for ALL the Brain Tumor Warriors who have battled and are still battling and for all those who sadly lost the battle. And for their loved ones so they know there are those of us who CARE.
That it doesn’t just end with the removal of the tumor.
I pray that more funding will be given to research brain tumors so that they can be eradicated , finding a cure to end all tumors malignant & benign .
