Why I Thrive: A brain tumor survivor’s dream to study neuroscience achieved.

Throughout Brain Tumor Awareness Month, we’ve shared the pediatric brain tumor community’s answers to Why I Care, Cure and Thrive. This latest installment focuses on helping survivors thrive. Catch up on the series at medium.com/why-i-care-cure-thrive.

The pediatric brain tumor journey doesn’t end with treatment. Often, a whole new set of challenges can arise on a survivor’s path. From physical side effects to developmental delays to financial hardships.

Together, though, we can help childhood brain tumor survivors become thrivers.

In addition to funding research that will lead to a higher quality of life for children, the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation is on a mission to empower today’s survivors. One way we do this is through the financial support of our college scholarship program.

Gabe B. is a brain tumor survivor and one of our scholarship recipients. In part because of the generosity of PBTF donors, he has been able to pursue his dream to study neuroscience.

“I thrive because I always try to keep in mind how lucky I am to be alive and healthy today when many others, who did nothing differently than me, did not have the same fortune. My experience with a brain tumor, and with truly amazing medical professionals that saved my life, really motivated me to pursue a medical career. With support from the PBTF as a scholarship recipient, I graduated from the University of Minnesota after 3 years with a degree in neuroscience, and have been accepted to medical school to begin in Fall 2017.”

All over the country, survivors like Gabe are pursuing a multitude of careers, including many in the medical field, as a direct result of lifesaving interactions with medical professionals.

Whatever their career goals, you can make a difference for these young adults by donating directly to our scholarship program.

Launched in 2001, the PBTF scholarship program has greatly increased its commitment to survivors by awarding more than 1,000 scholarships over the past several years. The application period for 2017 scholarships just closed. We will announce the 50 recipients in July.

To qualify for a scholarship, applicants must have been diagnosed at or before age 19, be a high school senior, high school graduate starting college or college student, and complete an online application.

“The road to achieving my dream is not over and is certainly filled with many significant challenges ahead,” says Gabe. “However, remembering how lucky I am to be in this position has me more motivated than ever to continue working to gain the skills and expertise needed to make a difference in patients’ lives.
This is why I thrive.”

Donate now to the PBTF scholarship program and give more survivors like Gabe the opportunity to shine.