Last updated: 5/1/03

Hello my name is Gina and I'm a 26-year-old with a tumor usually found in children. My illness starts in 6/00 when I was diagnosed with a Medulloblastoma. I had been having nausea every morning when I would wake, and many doctors thought I was having stomach problems. My primary doctor who ordered the MRI told me to see a Pediatric Neurosurgeon. A week later I would be in for brain surgery for a tumor in the fourth ventricle. Damage was done to the brain stem during surgery and I came out having double vision and a problem with walking because of balance issues. After my surgery, I was told the tumor was malignant and I would have to follow a protocol with radiation and chemotherapy.

Soon after I started a six-week protocol of radiation daily and chemotherapy every Friday. In this time I developed blood clots in my lungs and was again hospitalized. Since the brain surgery I was given steroids to prevent swelling in the brain. The steroids caused rashes all over my body and tremendous weight gain (causing stretch marks). Steroids also cause bone loss in which I was not aware of. As a result in my therapies I fell and broke my hip (March 29) and soon after broke my ankle (April 30). Both breaks I had to have surgery to have pins and plates put in place. In the time during this time, I was undergoing the second half of my protocol for a Medulloblastoma. I had chemotherapy every eight weeks; in which I had to be hospitalized overnight. During all of these journeys, I have been hospitalized for numerous reasons ranging from dehydration, to a port implanted, eye surgery and moving my ovaries.

I am currently facing physical therapy weekly and am on a mend. I recently began driving again am interested to get back to working with kids.

Before my illness I was attending Rhode Island College striving for a degree in elementary education and plan to continue with my interests pointed towards children with Cancer.

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Update: 6/25/2002

I am currently done with all treatments an am now walking with one forearm crutch. Although I am still in physical therapy, I'm confident I'm on the road to recovery. In May I had Strabismus surgery to correct the double vision. Soon I will be wearing contact lenses. I'm trying to keep a positive attitude, which I feel, helps tremendously! Volunteering 2 days a week at a children's hospital keeps me busy, and I plan to continue with college in the fall. I truly believe your attitude towards the future has a lot to do with your total well being.

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This is an update as of 3/06/03:

I am currently coming close to my 3-year anniversary of my brain surgery. Recovery has been slow but there is a gradual improvement in my walking skills; it can be very frustrating; but any improvement helps! I am currently walking with one arm crutch and am slowly coming off steroids. I've had 3 scans since my chemo treatments and all have been clear! My one problem I seem to have now is my memory. I don't feel my normal brain function is "up-to-par". I have to say this is minimal for brain surgery (but, it can be very frustrating).

I try to answer all questions that are sent to me as soon as possible; but the better I get, the less free time I have. I think of all I've written to often and hope anyone that reads this won't hesitate to send me a note, if I can help. I keep by my statement "fight, fight, fight!"