Brave 5 Year Old

Mary A. Scott had been complaining for months of a stomach ache. She then began throwing up bile a few times a week and I took her to the ER. I thought they were going to tell me she had reflux. The doctor came back and said she had a brain tumor the size of a tennis ball.

Within 12 hours she had her first of three brain surgeries. She had her three surgeries in three consecutive days. Her tumor also caused major hydrocephalus. After two weeks in the PICU we had to relocate from Charleston, SC to Charlotte, NC where she would receive impatient therapy to learn how to walk again and execute all fine motor skills with her right hand. The surgeries caused problems for her eyes and three months after her brain surgeries she had to have surgery in her eyes. She still has a pea sized tumor and goes for an MRI every three months. As of today you would never know she had all of this happen less than 9 months ago!

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