Overcoming a Brain Tumor Surgery in Less Than a Year

Everything started just right after finishing school. I was an occupational therapy assistant student at Keiser University, and at that time, I was completing my clinical rotations and ready to start studying to pass the board exam. A few days later, I started to feel different, and I already knew that something was wrong. The next morning, I went to the ER.

When I got the diagnosis, a brain tumor was compressing my cerebellum, and that was why I lost my motor coordination and balance. I went through surgery, and the rehab process was so hard for me to the point that I thought that I would be using a wheelchair for life as I didn’t see improvements, just three hrs of therapy a week, so I decided to take that as a challenge for me. My son and family needed me.

I took all the knowledge I got from school and applied them to me. I started doing therapy on my own (sometimes supervised, so it was safe for me). It took me 4 months to see wonderful results, and my goal was to go to the graduation ceremony without using a wheelchair or a walker. And I did it, and I even wore high heels. That day I felt so happy with my degree on my hands, but I was still studying to pass my board exam.

A few months later, and after many hours of studying, doctor’s appointments, and therapy time by myself, I passed my boards that same year and realized that I won that war. Now my patients can count on me as I am here to help them overcome tough times, too! Sometimes, we only see problems in bad times, but what if we take action now to see what awaits us?

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