My health journey began in July 2019, when I knew something was wrong but couldn't get a clear diagnosis. I went to multiple doctors, one of whom even suggested I was imagining my symptoms. It wasn't until October that a neurologist at Duke noticed a subtle, asymmetrical smile - a tiny detail that led to an MRI referral to rule out a mini-stroke or a brain tumor.

On November 1, 2019, as I headed for the MRI, I jokingly told coworkers I was going "to make sure I still have a brain." Just four hours later, the phone rang. My stomach sank, and I received the devastating diagnosis: a brain tumor.

The next day, a family member who is a neurosurgeon himself recommended Dr. Allan Friedman at Duke. Within a month, I was in surgery. On November 22, Dr. Friedman successfully removed the tumor and pulled me out of the rabbit hole I was falling into.

This experience taught me a profound lesson: you have to Keep Moving Forward. Through this fight, my eyes were opened to the incredible support system at the Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center and Angels Among Us. They provided not just medical care, but a community that supports patients and their families every step of the way.

They were there for me, and now I want to be there for others. Please consider donating to their fight. Your contribution will help ensure that more people can receive this life-changing care and find the strength to keep going.