3 years ago, I had been scanned and cleared. 3 years later, I was not. 9 days ago, I brought myself to St. Luke’s Hospital after experiencing a week-long migraine. Excedrin and Ibuprofen were my aids, but something felt different since I couldn’t get rid of this migraine altogether this time around.

It takes a lot for me to say this if you know of my family’s history with the care of St. Luke’s, but the ED care team I had was great. They listened to my symptoms and others that I was experiencing and sent me for a CT scan.

I am SO incredibly thankful that they did this, as it was determined that I had a nose-sized brain tumor - a choroid plexus papilloma with CSF obstruction. Me, someone who is young, healthy, and relatively active. I had some concerns, but I definitely didn’t expect to have a brain tumor that would need immediate removal.

I then contacted and requested I’d be transferred to Tufts Medical Center that evening, to which my ER Doctor obliged and assisted in the transfer.

36 hours later, I underwent brain surgery. I am thrilled to say that the entire tumor has been removed and is believed to be benign. Further genetic testing is being completed and I have a follow-up appointment in the coming days.

I am grateful. Grateful the tumor was found. Grateful it wasn’t worse. Grateful it was removable. Grateful I am fully functioning. Grateful for my St. Luke’s team. Grateful for my Tufts Medical team (shoutout to SICU Nurse Julia & NIMC Nurse Cortney). Grateful for my body. Grateful for my village - SO GRATEFUL. And grateful that my surgery happened on my mom’s birthday - there are no words.

I share my experience for awareness. Not sympathy. But to please get checked and to love each other. Listen to your body (I should have sooner). And to take care of yourselves.

For anyone asking how they can help while I’m out of work, recovering, and getting back on my feet, I have created a GoFundMe. I am still sifting through all of the love and texts