Never Give Up

Never Give Up

Alexandra

Just months before my 22nd birthday in February 2012, I was diagnosed with a brain tumor. My world turned upside down, and I immediately had to withdraw from all my classes to have surgery. I was so scared..I never had surgery before. I was fortunate enough to receive my certification in veterinary technology two years earlier. I understood the IVs, the intubation, and I was extremely knowledgeable with anesthesia and its effects.

On March 5, 2012, I kissed my family, and I was wheeled to the operating room. Because I have monitored numerous surgeries and recovered hundreds of patients at the high volume animal clinic I worked at, I knew how to “wake up”. I fought the anesthesia hard and strong. I remember there was a young man a few beds away from me, in which a car crashed into his bed while he was sleeping a few hours ago. I told my nurses I am okay, and for them to take care of the young man. I knew I could handle my situation. I was wide awake and talking to everyone just minutes after surgery. On the way to ICU, I yelled “grandma!” after seeing my family rush into my prospective room. I was hungry. I quickly asked for Chick-fil-A, and ate a 12 piece chicken nugget meal! I was released the next day, some say because I was eating all the hospital food!

Almost two years later, I finished my Associate in Science with high honors, and I begin engineering school at Texas Tech University in January 2014. NEVER give up hope. All of my MRI’s have come out negative, and I am on full throttle to become an engineer despite my tumor having a high reoccurrence rate. I just see it as an opportunity to enjoy life as much as possible! You can see video updates about my experience on YouTube via BwanaSimba58!

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