LAINE ISAACS

THE GIFT

OF A SECOND CHANCE

Laine Isaacs

Humor me for a moment, and think back to your senior year of high school. Were you working, planning your graduation, or getting ready for college? In May of 2005, at age 17, I was doing all those things. Then, my life took a very different turn.

It all started in 2004, when I started having headaches for the first time in my life. Soon after, my peripheral vision became blurry and spotty. After a few weeks, it worsened enough that I couldn’t read or watch television, and driving was impossible. I saw many doctors for these symptoms, but none of them offered concrete answers. In April, I began throwing up repeatedly, sometimes up to 20 times a day. Finally, the last doctor I saw was so concerned he insisted I have an MRI scan immediately.

The next morning, I met with a neurologist. I’ll never forget the way she unceremoniously glanced at the MRI images, then turned to me and said, “Don’t be scared, but you have a brain tumor.” to Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem, NC, to see Dr. Thomas Ellis, a neurosurgeon my neurologist had recommended. He explained that the tumor could be especially devastating because it was located on my pituitary gland. My stomach sank as Dr. Ellis told me my condition could be chronic or fatal, but he couldn’t be sure until a biopsy had been done to determine what type of tumor I had, and how it could be treated.

At that point, my high school graduation was eight days away, but I didn’t have the strength to walk across the stage to accept my diploma. As it turned out, my biopsy took place the day before the graduation and I was in the Neurological Intensive Care Unit of Baptist Hospital while my classmates accepted their diplomas.

I was diagnosed with a germinoma, a cancerous brain tumor. My radiation oncologist, Dr. Kevin McMullen, determined I would need 28 sessions of radiation therapy to eliminate the tumor.

my hair because the radiation would be aimed at my brain. I had assumed that chemotherapy was the only treatment that resulted in hair loss, but that wasn’t true.

Not only would I lose my hair, but because my brain was exposed to radiation, I would struggle with short term memory loss and dyslexia, and as a result, there was a strong possibility I would lose my creativity as a writer. I had planned to study creative writing in college, so this news was devastating.

Over the next few weeks of treatment, I was in denial about what my doctors had told me. I just didn’t understand how I could lose my creativity. After three weeks of radiation, my hair started to fall out. I also noticed that although I wasn’t inspired to write poetry anymore, I was still writing constantly. I think I basically refused to lose my creativity, so I wrote anything that came to mind, hoping it would lead to inspiration.

At the end of June, I received my last radiation treatment and went back home to Boone. I had an MRI scan on July 21st, 2005, which confirmed the brain tumor was gone.

Throughout my treatment, I worked hard to maintain a positive attitude. I saw how many other cancer patients seemed depressed, so I made a point to smile and greet almost everyone I came into contact with. That was all very easy until my treat- ment ended.

In the months that followed, I grappled with a sense of loss. I felt grateful to be in remission, but I didn’t have the energy to go to college, my headaches persisted, I had lost most of my hair, and I hadn’t written poetry in months.

Those were the days that tried my faith the most. During my treatment I was so busy staying optimistic that I hadn’t con- sidered the next phase of life and what it would mean: living with daily headaches, taking multiple medications for the rest of my life, and figuring out just what was going on with my cre- ativity.

Eventually, I recognized the unexpected blessings that re- sulted from my illness. My nurses became my friends, I drew closer to my friends and family, and most of all I was given a second chance at life.

Eight years later, I’m one of the best germinoma cases my doctors have seen. My hair grew back, and I honestly haven’t had a bad hair day since! I still have frequent headaches, diffi- culties with my medications, and energy issues, but those are small prices to pay to get to live my life. I never wrote another poem, but I now have a communication degree from Appala- chian State University, and I’m excited to see where my love of writing will take me next.

Four years ago, I got the word “blessed” tattooed on my right arm as a reminder of how much God has given me. On days when I’m frustrated with my health, I close my eyes and take a moment to thank Him for the gift of a second chance. Written by Laine Isaacs ~

Merry Christmas