From Tumor Battle to Graduation Triumph

I am a current Anthropology student at the University of California, Berkeley, and this fall, which was supposed to be my last semester of study, I was diagnosed with a very large left hemisphere brain tumor that was affecting my ability to walk, talk, and learn.

On October 1st, I underwent emergency surgery to remove the mass and am currently in recovery, learning how to walk and read again. I have made great strides in my recovery and will be returning to graduate Magna Cum Laude (3.8) in May 2025.

Unfortunately, due to this disease, I had to leave my student job as a Rescue Skiff Boat Driver at the Berkeley Marina, along with my second job at the Berkeley Food Cooperative. This was my only means of support to pay for my education and now my mounting medical bills. It is also unfortunate that in Summer 2024, I declined the university’s medical coverage at a cost of 2k a semester in hopes of saving money, only to be diagnosed two months later with a meningioma that caused vision changes, hearing loss, memory loss, seizures, weakness, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and even behavioral changes.

You may ask what keeps me going to reach my educational goals of graduating UC Berkeley and becoming an Anthropologist. Besides my deep love of learning and my newfound belief in myself, I made a promise to my son that I would finish. You see, he passed away two summers ago when I was at a study abroad program through school. I had to return early to help plan his funeral but made a promise to him before he died that I would finish school.

Learning has changed for me too. I cannot read the same as I did before and now have a digital reader. Life has been testing with so many obstacles, yet I sustain my determination with grit and the kind support of donations from people such as yourself. I thank you deeply.