Zoe FitzGerald

Hi, my name is Zoe FitzGerald.  I was diagnosed with an optic glioma when I was three years old.  Until recently, I was very private about the fact I have a brain tumor; but now I feel the responsibility to do what I can to raise money for brain cancer research so other children can benefit from advances in treatment like I have. There were a lot of challenges with my first chemotherapy protocol.  I felt nauseous all the time, had a lot of joint pain, lost my energy, and experienced severe bone marrow suppression so I couldn't go out in public much and had to quit preschool and dance.  I also ended up getting a blood clot so I had to get shots twice a day for about a year and a half.  That's not fun for a three year old… but you end up just getting used to it.  

 

Then, I was able to have a break from chemotherapy for about three years until my tumor started to grow again.  I was on another medication for about a year and a half until it started to damage my kidneys, so I needed to stop that medication.  My tumor started to grow shortly after stopping that medication, and I was fortunate to quickly be accepted for a two-year clinical trial because the other treatment options were no longer available to me.  The clinical trial drug was effective in shrinking my brain tumor by 25% while causing only minimal side effects, making it possible for me to stay in school and my activities.  

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So, advances in treatment are being made, but only through continued research.  And research is only possible with funding.