A life-saving operation to remove a brain tumor wiped out all of the woman’s childhood memories
A young woman has told how all her childhood memories, including any appreciation of her parents, were erased after she underwent life-saving surgery to remove a brain tumor.
Weronika Fafinska, 23, was diagnosed with a diffuse grade 2 astrocytoma brain tumor in February 2014 at the age of just 14.
She had most of her tumor removed during surgery in February 2014 – but when she regained consciousness she didn’t even recognize her parents, Robert and Kate Bomba, who were sitting by her bedside.
Weronika Fafinska, 23, was diagnosed with a diffuse grade 2 astrocytoma brain tumor in February 2014 at the age of just 14
Weronika had most of her tumor removed during an operation in February 2014 – but when she woke up, she didn’t even recognize her parents, who were sitting by her bed
Weronika, from Edinburgh, said: “Driving home in the car I felt sick three times because I don’t think I’d ever been in a car before.
“I was so scared because I didn’t know where I was going.
“When we got to the house, I didn’t recognize it.
“I didn’t recognize my bedroom and I didn’t like anything in it, like my clothes.
“I didn’t know what anything was.
“I didn’t know how an oven got hot or what a soccer ball was, but I was able to pick up on things like my math schedule right away.
Weronika, recently pictured with her parents Robert and Kate Bomba.
“When I got back to school, there were hundreds of people there and I didn’t know anyone, not even my closest friends.”
In 2012, Weronika became deaf in her right ear and an MRI scan later revealed she had a brain tumor.
Weronika’s tumor remained stable for seven years, but in March 2021 a scan showed it had grown, but not enough to require surgery.
Since then, the August 2021, March 2022, and August 2022 scans have all shown slight growth.
Weronika said: “The uncertainty of how it’s growing and whether the treatment will work really got to me this year.
Weronika in 2013. In 2012, Weronika became deaf in her right ear and an MRI scan later revealed she had a brain tumor
Weronika learned to ski again in 2018. In February of this year, she took part in Brain Tumor Research’s 10,000 steps a day challenge to raise money for the charity
“I have to think about things that normal 23-year-olds shouldn’t be doing, like whether it makes sense to get married, whether I can have children and if so, what happens if I don’t win against my tumor?
“Well, there’s a lot to do at the moment.”
In February, Weronika took part in Brain Tumor Research’s 10,000 steps a day challenge to raise money for the charity.
Next month she’s taking part in the 100 Squats or Star Jumps a Day in November Challenge to raise funds and awareness.
She said: “I’m really looking forward to the challenge but I haven’t been physically active in a while so I’m excited to see how I’ll handle it.
“I’m struggling to keep myself busy right now, so I decided to take part to distract myself and boost my mental health by raising awareness about brain cancer and reminding myself that there are charities like this that are trying to help people like me.
Weronika with her partner Cameron Somerville. She said: “I have to think about things that normal 23-year-olds shouldn’t be doing, like whether there’s any point in getting married, whether I can have children.”
“Brain cancer research gives me hope that people are trying to find a cure and hopefully that will help save lives.”
Matthew Price, Community Development Manager at Brain Tumor Research, said: “We are truly grateful to Weronika for taking part in the 100 Squats or Star Jumps a Day in November Challenge, as it is only with the support of people like her that we can make it through able to advance our research into brain tumors and improve outcomes for patients like Weronika who are forced to battle this dreadful disease.
“I would encourage anyone who is able to take part in the challenge to do so.
“Not only is it fun, but it also gets you fit while raising important funds to help find a cure for brain cancer.”
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11341489/Life-saving-surgery-remove-brain-tumour-wiped-womans-childhood-memories.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490 A life-saving operation to remove a brain tumor wiped out all of the woman’s childhood memories
