Neuroscience Student with Brain Tumor

My name is Stephanie, and I’m 23 years old. In the Spring of 2014, I was socialising with friends when I suddenly wasn’t able to understand any words. As a Neuroscience student, this concerned me, and I scheduled a doctor’s appointment. The doctor immediately ordered an MRI, and the results showed a mass in my brain. My first craniotomy was performed in August 2014.

In a follow-up MRI, it was confirmed that the tumor had already increased in size. A second surgery was carried out in October 2015. The surgical result looked much better than the first, but, unfortunately, has become a more serious diagnosis of Glioblastoma (GBM), which is a Grade IV. It’s extremely aggressive and even though most was removed, it finds its way back; it mutates and grows. Because of this, I underwent radiation in November and December.

I’m an optimistic fighter and know God is in charge. After this began, things happened that I never expected. I feel as though the Lord is sovereign in ways that are strange to us sometimes. Anyway, I’m determined to keep moving on in every way.

I’ve returned from Texas where I was able to start an unconventional treatment requiring particular medications that aren’t covered by insurance for me. Since I’ll be following this protocol for about eight months, it’ll be extremely expensive.

I intend to go forward with my studies, researching neurodegenerative diseases and cancer, like my own, so that I can learn more about diseases affecting us or someone we know.

I’m currently a coach for the stone summit team in Atlanta, but have had to take some time off from work because of my latest surgery and treatment after being diagnosed with Glioblastoma IV. I created a gofundme page (https://www.gofundme.com/help-stephs-brain) to help pay for my treatment that isn’t covered by my insurance because it’s unconventional.