The End Brain Cancer Initiative is pleased to announce that Alyssa Gohra is the 2023 National HOPE Award winner presented by Novocure. Alyssa was selected following a national outreach campaign to nominate a brain cancer patient who most embodies HOPE in facing this disease.
Hope is everything and more. Hope is having a second chance at life. Hope is knowing there will be light at the end of the tunnel. Hope is knowing there’s always a rainbow after a storm. Hope is what you hold onto with a smile on your face, to stay strong knowing the storm will pass one day. Hope is courage, strength and love. I have so much hope!
Alyssa Gohra
Alyssa was just 21 years old when she was diagnosed with a brain tumor.
November 17th, 2022 my life changed forever because of one single notification on my phone. My MRI results from my brain were sent to me. I was sitting down with my mom at the table when the scariest words came out of my mouth. I look at her in disbelief and say, “Mom do I have a tumor what’s going to happen to me?”. That was also the same night I found myself reassuring everyone I would ok. Now looking back I not only did it to keep my loved ones strong, but I engraved constant reassurance to myself as well. December 15th, 2022 came and my brain surgery lasted 8 hours. Now that is the day my life changed more than I could’ve ever imagined. Nobody can prepare you for what comes post surgery. Endless pain, screaming, crying, confusion, and so much more. I even forgot how to walk at one point. I was told my tumor was benign at the hospital and that is was fully removed. It made me feel so grateful and blessed of how successful my surgery was that I knew I just had to keep fighting through the pain. I found out a couple weeks later my tumor was cancerous that they had removed. Then on March 9th, 2023, I had my first scan post op and 3 small spots were shown. Everyday during recovery, I had an outpouring amount of love that gave me so much more strength to continue on. I knew one day I would feel better. I knew my pain wouldn’t last forever, the light was shining through more and more, each set back proved that. This may have changed my life, but looking back I am so glad it gave me a tremendous amount of strength, brought me closer to my family, and made me look at life differently. This was my second chance at life. And i’m here to prove that some days may be hard, but they do get better. I may not know what the future holds until my next scan, but I know the strength I have to carry on.
Alyssa Gohra
