Share Your Story
Your story is powerful and can help raise awareness and support for others facing similar challenges. By sharing your experience, you bring hope to others and show them that they are not alone.
Story submissions should be fewer than 1,000 words. We encourage you to focus on how having a brain tumor has impacted your life or what you want others to understand about brain tumors. Fields marked with an asterisk (*) are required.
Patient & Caregiver Stories
Story Submissions Disclaimer
The stories featured on this page are submitted by patients, caregivers, and families who have chosen to share their personal experiences. These stories reflect the individual perspectives and opinions of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views, beliefs, or policies of the American Brain Tumor Association (ABTA).
The ABTA does not independently verify the details of these stories and cannot guarantee their accuracy or completeness. The information shared in these stories should not be considered as medical advice or a substitute for professional consultation with qualified healthcare providers.
By reading or submitting content to this page, you acknowledge and agree that the ABTA is not responsible for any decisions or actions taken based on the information provided in these stories.
If you have concerns about any content on this page, please contact us at [email protected]
Fighting Glioblastoma with My Tribe
by Erika Butler My life changed forever on July 3, 2023, when I had a seizure and crashed into a house. The police assumed I was drunk, but a CT […]
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Fuel the Fight, Fund the Future.
When Beth Kassab first attended the ABTA’s National Conference in 2023, she was admittedly hesitant. Beth lost her husband to a brain tumor in 2022, after 16 years of marriage […]
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When “How Are You?” Feels Impossible to Answer
By Mary Kate O’Donnell “How are you?” It’s the question that starts nearly every conversation. Most people answer on autopilot—“Good, good… I’m doing well!” “Things are great. How are you?” […]
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The Hidden Consequences of a Childhood Brain Tumor: A Survivor’s Journey
by Adam Bunnell When I was a child, I was diagnosed with a glioma near the fourth ventricle of my brain, adjacent to the cerebellum. The tumor was surgically removed, […]
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A Life of Service, Love, and Strength: Kate’s Journey with Glioblastoma
by Pat Jones My wife, Kate Straub-Jones, lived a life of dedication and purpose. We both served in the U.S. Navy and continued to work as government civilians after retirement. […]
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12 year glioblastoma survivor
by Katie Kaiser Smith In 2012, I was a mom to a one-year-old baby girl and a six-year-old son. Life was busy and beautiful, full of the little joys and […]
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Running for More Than a Finish Line: Jason Noel and Alex Urquhart Join Team ABTA for the Berlin Marathon
This fall, two runners—Jason Noel and Alex Urquhart will lace up their shoes and take their marks for a marathon that’s about more than personal achievement. They’ll be representing Team […]
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Redefining What’s Possible: Jason Tharp’s Journey with Glioblastoma
When Jason Tharp was diagnosed with glioblastoma (GBM)—an aggressive and unforgiving form of brain cancer—his doctors gave him seven months to live. That was four years ago. Today, he’s still […]
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What My Brain Tumor Taught Me About Presence, Resilience, and Patient Care
by Nina Glauch I’m no stranger to brain injuries. I was a competitive figure skater growing up and had a few concussions on the ice. One was significant enough that […]
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“It Can Happen to Me”: My Journey with Stage IV Metastatic Melanoma
by Niki Kozak I will never again think, “It can’t happen to me.” At 44 years old, I had it all. I was a mom, a wife, a morning radio […]
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Processing Our Brain Cancer Journey Through Song
Juliann before her biopsy in 2019 Juliann and her sister-in-law, Karli, who joined in shaving her head in solidarity and support A recent photo of Scott and his family on
The Will to Defeat GBM
By: Dan Zappa, Glioblastoma Survivor There is no routine for a military family! Our young family was making plans for a return to “normal life” when I came home from
Not Misery, But a Mission
My name is Chris and I am 44 years old. As of May 2022, I will also be a 44-year survivor of a brain tumor. Yes, I had my tumor
