In 2012, at the age of only 26, I was admitted to the hospital for what was believed at the time to be a stroke. For months afterward, I underwent a painful recovery period during which I had to relearn how to talk, write and read.
This past April, my life was turned upside down once again. For some time, I had been experiencing overwhelming headaches and fatigue. Worried by these symptoms, I asked my neurologist to move up an appointment that was planned for that summer. After a blood test and an MRI scan, while at work I received two phone calls from the hospital and my doctor asking me to see him immediately because they had 鈥渇ound something鈥�. Panicked, I left work on the spot and made my way to the hospital.
That鈥檚 when I learned the news 鈥� what they had found was a brain tumour. This knowledge was only made worse by the revelation that my stroke in 2012 was a misdiagnosis. My symptoms at the time had actually been caused by the cancer which had somehow gone undetected for six years.
After receiving my diagnosis, I met with two doctors who were not willing or able to help me. Thankfully, I soon found Dr. Kevin Petrecca at The Neuro 鈥� my savior! He agreed to operate on me, and on June 1st I finally underwent surgery to remove my tumour.
Since being diagnosed with brain cancer, I have dedicated myself to volunteering and giving back by raising money to support brain tumour research. I am determined to do all that I can to champion this important cause, which deserves so much more awareness and support than it currently receives.
Early this year, I began raising money to support research by selling a selection of custom unisex t-shirts and hoodies. For anyone who is interested, the t-shirts are available for $25 and the hoodies for $45, in both adult sizes (S-4XL) and children鈥檚 sizes (XS-XL).
75% of the proceeds will be donated to The Neuro to support Dr. Kevin Petrecca鈥檚 Brain Tumour Research Fund, while the rest will go towards the Quebec Cancer Foundation. I have already raised $3,000 and I鈥檓 far from finished!
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To order, please visit my
Thank you so much for your attention and for your support of research!
Nancy Champagne
