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"Everyone has expectations for their future such as becoming a doctor, lawyer, athlete, etc. My future involved technology as I wanted to become a graphic designer. I was very good at it in high school classes. My future was bright for me as my education level went up. Little did I know that Christmas Break of my junior year would put not only my future, but my health, on the line.
After school was out, my mom noticed that something was a little off with me. A few days later I went to Louisiana to spend Christmas Break with my grandparents. When I got there, I was having bad headaches. My grandma called my mother, and they decided that if I didn’t feel better the next day, they would take me to a doctor. My mom and dad picked me up and took me to a doctor in Monroe, then to a clinic in Clinton, but both were unsuccessful in finding my problem.
My mom then took me to a doctor in Flowood who found a brain tumor. We immediately went to St. Dominic’s where I had surgery. The doctors told my parents that they were only able to remove part of the tumor without causing permanent damage or even death. After surgery, I had some long-term side effects including balance issues, weakness on my right side, memory loss and double vision. After the initial rehab at St. Dominic Hospital, I went to Methodist Rehabilitation Center where I spent three more months rebuilding my strength and working on my speech. Miraculously, I was able to return home but still had to go through chemotherapy and radiation. I also attended Quest, which is an out-patient rehab program. A few months later I returned to high school, graduated and attended Hinds Community College in Raymond.
After I got out of the hospital, I learned that while I was in St. Dominic’s, my family saw a sign for a brain injury support group hosted by the Brain Injury Association of MS and attended their first meeting. I was nervous to go to my first meeting, but the support group welcomed me with open arms! I feel very blessed to have found the #BIAMS and other people who have been through the same or similar experiences. They are the reason I have discovered what I was meant to do which is to become a motivational speaker. I am now 30 years old and able to love myself every day. I thank my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for allowing me to live and for blessing me with opportunities to experience life in so many ways!"