Allison is a sixteen year old survivor who was diagnosed with a brain tumor at age nine. Allison’s tumor is a ganglioglioma. Gangliogliomas are mixed cell tumors containing both neural ganglionic cells and neural glial cell components. (Connective tissue and gray matter.) Although these tumors are rare, their prognosis is generally very good. Allison’s ten year survival rate is 90%. Dr. Sutton at Children’s Hospital in Philadelphia thought she would be back to school within three weeks.

We were informed after the surgery that Allison was “devastated by surgery”. It happens to some patients and the doctors don’t know why, or who will be affected. Sometimes after surgery the physicians hold their breath fearing the worst and the patient is fine. Other times, all looks well and the patient has severe deficits. Allison was still in the hospital three weeks after her surgery. She couldn’t walk, talk, sit up or eat without assistance. Her IQ dropped to a 46.

Allison was discharged as an outpatient to The John Heinz Institute of Rehab. Medicine. There she had speech and language, physical therapy, and occupational therapy, five days a week for four months. Because of her physical and cognitive disabilities Allison had to transfer from a Catholic school to the local public school. That fall Allison started back to school with an aide by her side, but no friends in sight. It was very difficult.

Allison continues with her therapy twice a week after school. The little girl who couldn’t walk joined the middle school cross country team. She was quite an inspiration to her coach, team mates, and other runners. She is a great swimmer and she loves to sing and dance. After taking a year off, Allison returned to school this year with a new independence and without her aide. It has been a long, difficult journey, but we have all grown through this experience. We tend to cry harder, laugh louder, and enjoy every day to the fullest. Our family motto is “Life is short, you have to be Happy”.

Allison lives in Northeastern PA with her parents Paul and Molly, her brother Matthew and Athena her black lab.