I was unexpectedly diagnosed with a pineal region tumor in October 2018 after years of migraines and sudden double vision. I spent about three weeks in the hospital and ended up having a cardiac procedure to close a patent foramen ovale (PFO) — that was discovered in the hospital during my pre-surgery testing — in my heart prior to surgery, since I needed to have a seated craniotomy and it put me at greater risk of a stroke. Luckily, the surgery was a total resection, and I am still in great health today. In the time since, I went to law school and am now a practicing attorney.
I was obviously in shock hearing the diagnosis, but reality didn’t fully set in until weeks or months later when I was at home recovering. I dealt with severe anxiety for a while, which I managed with therapy and medication, and am now happy to say I am doing well physically and mentally.
My family, partner and friends were absolute rocks and got me through my long hospital stay and recovery. And they continue to support me by attending NBTS’s New Jersey Brain Tumor Walk in Asbury Park! We’ve walked three times now and it’s always a very rewarding experience.
My brain tumor experience changed my life, and unfortunately, since my diagnosis, I have personally witnessed others in my life get diagnosed with brain tumors who did not share in my great outcome. It really opened my eyes to how much more work can be done to find a cure.
There is so much we still don’t know about brain tumors. My tumor in particular was extremely rare; there were fewer than 100 reported cases when I was diagnosed in 2018. It is so important to support organizations like NBTS that accelerate critical research.
