In 2016, 2 weeks after graduating from nursing school my life changed forever. No longer was my biggest hurdle in life passing my NCLEX. At 22 years old I was rushed into emergency brain surgery, placed in a coma and diagnosed with grade 4 Gliosarcoma- an extremely rare form of brain cancer.

 My future was extremely unknown. Even doing simple things like eating, drinking and walking became a struggle. For weeks, every time I said out loud “I have brain cancer” I sobbed. I remember spending weeks in the hospital wondering what life would now be like. 

The support I received from my parents, siblings, boyfriend, friends, and even strangers was unmatched- and undoubtedly what has gotten me to the point I’m at today.  

After completing a 30-fraction course of radiation treatment at UPenn, I hunkered down for a solid month, took and passed my nursing boards and then finished off another 6 cycles of chemo. 

I am extremely indebted to the countless doctors and nurses I encountered along my journey and can proudly say I am now one of them. 

After working at UPenn for a few years in day surgery, I moved to Boston to be with my now fiancé. 

For the past two years I have worked as a nurse in Radiation Oncology at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. It definitely takes a special person to work in oncology, but I am confident that this is what I was always meant to do.

 National Brain Tumor Society will not rest until a cure exists - but more needs to be done. Please join in my effort!