My name is Kacy and I'm 13 years old. I'm just like many of you. I'm in the eighth grade, active in my church youth group and I love shopping.

About five years ago, I was constantly having terrible migraines, numbness in my arms, blurred vision, and was always sleepy. After my symptoms started, I went to my pediatrician. He suggested that I go to an eye doctor and possibly have an MRI. When I went to the eye doctor he said my vision was absolutely fine. All signs pointed to an MRI. After the MRI they found a mass in the thalamus, which is the central command unit for the brain. My neurosurgeon (brain doctor) said I had a brain tumor. I was absolutely devastated. I've had an MRI every six to twelve months for four years now. Over the years it has grown tremendously applying pressure in my brain. He said that it could cause a lot of damage just getting to it so they would leave it alone until they had to do something.

At the beginning of last summer (June), I had another MRI, which showed fluid building in my brain. The fluid had to come out and he did a biopsy to find out what the tumor was made of. It would be a few weeks of worrying and waiting until we found out the results. Luckily, he drained the fluid but didn't get enough tissue for the biopsy. In July another biopsy was done. This time it was a success. My tumor was benign.

About a month later I went in for a CT scan because I was still having trouble with headaches. I was admitted into the hospital that very day to have a shunt put in. My doctor also planned to do surgery to remove the tumor. He said that it really needed to come out, but wanted me to wait a few weeks and build up my strength. The tumor was down in the center of the brain, sitting on the brain stem. It was about the size of a small walnut. I had the tumor removed on October 2, 2000 and stayed in the hospital until October 7. I was out of school and went to rehabilitation 2-3 days a week for the next 3 months.

Upon returning to school I was able to do most of what I could before. I'm still having trouble with my balance and I get tired easy. There is some residual tumor left and my doctor will be doing another MRI in the next few months. Please keep me and my family in your prayers. I know that with the support of my friends, my church, and family behind me, things will be OK.

Yours Truly,

Kacy