Edna

Patient: Edna, diagnosed age 9
Diagnosis: Medulloblastoma Brain Tumor
Treatment: Surgery, Radiation, Chemotherapy
ThinkAgain Intervention: Cognitive remediation, Educational therapy

Edna's Speech

"Good evening, My name is Edna, I am 16 years old and I am very lucky to be here tonight... I know many kids who were not so lucky. I am happy to see all of you participating tonight for kids like me. I am a brain tumor survivor and Thanks to God and Children's Hospital Los Angeles, I have been given a second chance to live. My journey has been tough. I have gone through 2 craniotomies, radiation and 9 rounds of chemotherapy - all this, to keep me alive. I have had intensive rehab such as speech, occupational and physical therapy to relearn everything again. It's as if I was born again. The brain surgeries along with the chemotherapies and radiation cause your memory problems and learning problems in school. I was having difficulty in school and I was sad. One day, my mom and I were going through Facebook. There was an ad from THINK AGAIN. My mom read it through it and immediately sent Think Again an email explaining my story. Within 1 hour or even faster, Dr. Kerrigan called my mom back. Dr. Kerrigan said she could help me. My mom had been looking for some type of help to help me with memory, but there is nothing out there to help you after treatment. I started my educational therapies in about two weeks. My educational therapist was Dr. Miller and she is awesome. She has also been my advocate at school to help the school understand what I need so I can get help too. Schools don't really understand how kids who have had brain tumors or had leukemia are affected. S So I am very thankful to THINKAGAIN! On April 1 this year I will be reaching my 7 year remission anniversary. My dream is to attend college in the future. Thank you, Dr. Kerrigan, for making my life better. I also want to thank you all for participating and donating to Think Again and keep helping kids like me. Thank you I love you ALL very much and LET'S FIGHT ON!!! 3/3/2012