A short Bio

I was a happy normal kid growing up in Freehold, New Jersey. I loved playing all kinds of sports, such as basketball, baseball, kickball and badminton. I would really enjoy just going outside, riding my bike and playing with my friends. In 1988, my family and I were coming home from our car trip from Canada. I was beginning to have major headaches, continuously vomiting, weakness and, with a high fever.  

I was rushed to Jersey Shore Hospital, there I was put through many scans and was told I had a cancerous tumor grown in my head. There was an airport behind the Hospital therefore, I was flown to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center by a helicopter, my parents could not come on the copter so they had to drive all the way there. At the time I was only the age of 8, I did not know much then or knew what was going on. The doctor’s said to my parents, this surgery was very dangerous and that this would be a 50/50 chance of survival and, only I would have to agree to go on with this so, my parents just told me to say yes and the doctor’s will fix everything (I did not know what was said between parents and doctor’s, mom and dad just told me to say yes). The tumor was removed and replaced with a shunt, after the surgery I was in a coma for about a year. When I woke up my parents including my doctor’s were very surprised, my eyes were opened, but I could not talk or even swallow. I had to have a new feeding tube changed every week and a new ivy everyday, man did it hurt! My first words was Mom and Dad, everyone was very surprised that I still knew everyone and most of the past, just not what happened in between.

I was moved to Mountainside Hospital to begin therapy. I needed therapy just to help me speak, stand, and walk again. From the effects of the brain tumor, I was left with poor balance, tremors and speech problems. I could no longer do some of the things that I had loved to do anymore. I had to go through years of physical, occupational and, speech therapy. I started off in a wheel chair, slowly worked up to crutches, then to a walker, and now a single walking cane. In 1990, I was finally able to return to school and start from where I had left off. A year later, I had moved to another town and everything was brand new to me. New house, new neighbor hood, new school, everyone was a stranger to me, I knew no one here. Since I was away from school for about a year, I was very lucky that I was able to skip a grade and go straight to middle school. When I started middle school, I felt that I was placed in lower classes, just because of my condition. I think the child study team did not realize that I was able to do harder work. However, I went on to high school and then on to a successful college career. During middle and high school years, I was pretty well known and knew almost everyone in my grade, sometimes I thought was it because I was the only one who strolled the halls with a wheelchair, walked around with a walker and, a cane?   

In 1996, I was having these weird feelings again and, was returned to MSKCC. Again I was put through multiple scans. Then the doctor’s wanted to test something, they had me in a special room where I was watched 24/7, they had shut off my shunt for a while. Days had gone by and, I was supposed to feel nauseous, weak, not wanting do much. Nurses were even asking me if I still knew what day it was and, who is our current president? Just to see if I was losing my memory. I answered all questions correctly and been ok for a week, therefore my shunt was removed. After graduation no one kept in touch with me anymore. I have called them but they either moved or changed there numbers without me knowing. There was no doubt about it, it's not like I did not know why they did that? It’s because I am not able to do a lot of things that they can do and, me being physically handicapped! When I had the tumor and shunt in my head, my parents did not want to go anywhere to far.  Now that I had shunt removed and everything, I was actually able to go on a real vacation, in 2001 on the islands of Hawaii.  

In 2008, I graduated college with a degree in computer science. I have been trying to look for a job, but because of the bad economy, it has been very difficult for me to find work. I have been to a couple of interviews but they tell me this and that. Many times I think they do not hire me, because they find someone better for the job/is not handicapped. There are many times when I felt lonely, frustrated and upset at what I have to go through. There are even times when I was just feel hopeless and do not belong anymore. 

In 2009, something very important happened in my life. I was told about a very special organization by my social worker at MSKCC. I went to my first Children’s Brain Tumor Foundation meeting and it had changed my life. Through CBTF,  I had the chance to go to Camp Mak-A-Dream in Montana.  There were many activities at the camp that I enjoyed, and I was able to take classes about being a cancer survivor and learning how to cope with our conditions. I challenged myself, and even climbed the high ropes. I was very afraid, and did felt that I could definitely not accomplish something like this. I was sitting there about an hour watching others having fun, and I was thinking this may be my first and last time to do this. I had gained so much trust and respect here, that it made me want to do it even more. Others were encouraging me to do it and, I did not want to let them down. So, I held my breath, closed my eyes and actually climbed to the top. The friends I made at camp proved to me that I could do things that I never thought I could do. 

I also became involved with the Young Professional Group and, I know how important it is to have someone to support and help others when they do have a disability. I now always volunteer for the YPG/CBTF events whenever I can. I have met really nice, caring, loving and, nonjudgmental people where I can actually call my real friends and family. I was able to speak at their annual Gala with my good friend Morgan Sobel Gala-speeches to tell my story and, let out feelings that I having been holding inside all this time and, believe me it felt good! In October of 2011, CBTF had offered me the title as Brand Ambassador. I was gladly to accept the position; I was just very excited to be a part of CBTF staff and family.

My experiences at camp and my connection with CBTF has turned my life around. I consider CBTF, YPG, and the people I met at camp a huge part of my family. In the beginning I was very upset at myself, frustrated and, lonely then CBTF, YPG, and CMAD were there to pick up all the pieces. I am so happy to be where I am now, there is nothing I will not do for them. I love my CBTF and CMAD family! They have turned my whole life around once again. I am happier and have more confidence in myself when I am with my real friends and family!

Waiting for you....