Hi Everyone,
I want to share with you a short story from Sonia Calcagno. (She worked with us here at Dembo Jones during tax season and attends the Tapestry with her son John and often her sister and mom). She will be participating in the upcoming Race for Hope DC. Sonia has an amazing story of hope, faith and life. I want to share it with you today and ask you to think about either supporting her in her participation or actually taking part in the walk! Here is a direct link that you can use to go right now and give online.
Give Online to Sonia’s Race! (CLICK HERE)
So, read her story and GIVE! Way to Go Sonia! I know you’ll make your goal!!!!!!
Blessings!
pd
Dustin Hedrick
SONIA’S STORY | April 22, 2008
I’m so excited for this year’s race! It is my 10 year anniversary as a brain tumor survivor. It’s so amazing when I think about everything that I went through. I was one of the 60 survivors to complete the race last year, and I hope to be in the top 10 of survivor finishers this year! I haven’t set a monetary goal, but I know that together we’ll raise a good amount of money to support brain tumor research.
In 1998, after one month of having a headache 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, I was finally diagnosed with a brain tumor. Oddly enough, I had no other symptoms than the headache. During that month, I went back and forth to the doctors at least four times. At 25, I wasn’t terribly concerned that something was really wrong with me. The doctors felt the same way because they reluctantly prescribed an MRI after four weeks of suffering from this intense headache. I laugh now, as I look back and remember how the doctor said, "Sonia, we’re not concerned that there is anything seriously wrong with you, but we want to prescribe an MRI to rule out any of those possibilities." Not even twelve hours later, I received a call at work. I was told over the phone that I had a brain tumor and I had to follow up with a specialist that same day. So, a co-worker drove me to the neurologist since I was beyond upset. Life was already stressful enough as a new single mom juggling work and home. Now I had to deal with a major illness. The neurologist scared me to death because he said he had no idea how I was still walking or talking with the size of the tumor that was growing into my cerebellum. He said the one good thing was that the tumor was encapsulated by a cyst so it had not grown fingers or attached to my brain. He then told me that I had to undergo emergency surgery that weekend. Labor Day weekend, September 8, 1998. Truly a day that I will never forget. So, I took the doctor’s advice and underwent an 8 hour surgery. Miraculously, my neurosurgeon removed the entire tumor, and I have been tumor free since then. Other than the scars on my head, I have a tremor in my left hand as a result of my surgery. Not bad for potentially facing a lifetime of not being able to walk or talk. I am so blessed!
I appreciate all of your support! I look forward to walking with you on Sunday, May 4. Thank you!!
-Sonia
Give Online to Sonia’s Race! (CLICK HERE)