I have heard it, and I have had many brain tumor warriors tell me that someone has said to them, “You aren’t the same after brain surgery.”

While technically true, this is not a helpful phrase. It is scary and daunting to hear when facing an upcoming brain surgery. Sure, I am not the same person I was before my brain surgery. But I am also not the same person I was before I got married, became a mom, or lived through a pandemic. Life is change. We are constantly changing and different from the person we were previously. And that’s ok. That’s probably even good or great (really, a world full of unchanging toddlers is a terrifying idea).

So, we aren’t the same. Okay. But that doesn’t mean we are necessarily worse.

I learned a lot and grew as a person throughout my brain tumor journey. I have perfectionist and type A tendencies, and a brain tumor diagnosis really helped give me perspective on what does and does not actually matter. I had to learn how to let things go, and to really think through what actually needed me and what someone else could handle while I was recovering and healing. I forcibly could not sweat the small stuff, and so I learned how to live my life in a different fashion. I especially learned to not let my work consume my entire life.

My brain tumor greatly affected my my balance. I had to do vestibular physical therapy after treatment. Afterwards I realized that my balance will always be something I need to work at and keep practicing. So I chose to really focus and push on balance challenging exercises to make sure I keep my balance in as good of condition as possible. Because of that, I am now doing very fun and exciting exercises such as paddleboard yoga and aerial yoga that I probably wouldn’t have believed I could do back in the time period before my diagnosis.

I also decided to use my brain tumor experience as a way to help and connect with other brain tumor warriors. I wanted to take this awful experience and turn it into something good. Because of my volunteering with the Acoustic Neuroma Association I have met so many amazing and wonderful people, and now I know awesome brain tumor survivors around the globe!

They say the only person who likes change is a baby in a wet diaper. No one wants a brain tumor diagnosis or a brain surgery. I am not going to lie, there is a whole lot of unpleasant on that journey. But you can still be a wonderful version of you, hopefully with a lot less tumor, on the other side.