Bailey Miller was only two years old when she had her first seizure. Doctors thought it was a one-off, until her seizures became more frequent. She had brief lapses where she would experience a loss of awareness, a symptom of absence seizures, and later, full tonic-clonic seizures, characterized by a complete loss of consciousness and muscle contractions.

Migraines weren’t uncommon for then-25-year-old Marissa Stubbert, who had experienced them since high school. “I could always function,” Marissa says. “I know some people get a migraine and they’re down and out, but that never happened to me.” One morning, Marissa was getting ready for work and had a migraine that wouldn’t subside.

Ten-year-old Massimo MacFarlane is eager to tell his story. Sitting next to his mom, Amanda Ceccarelli, Massimo is animated when he speaks, showing the confidence he’s grown into through his journey.

Emmett Undseth was just seven years old, having a pillow fight with his 10-year-old brother, when it became clear something was very wrong. With four siblings, horsing around was the norm and not usually cause for concern. This time, though, Emmett complained of severe eye pain.

Ben Seewald is passionate about his work as a support services specialist at Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada, where he helps children, youth and families managing a brain tumour diagnosis find resources and community.

Kayla Krahn has just returned from a run, her four-year-old son, Ben, energetically jumping behind her. Healthy and active, Kayla is also a brain tumour survivor, having had her life turned upside down only a few short years ago.

Amber Gunderson was only seven years old when she began experiencing severe headaches. “Terrible, mind-numbing, painful blackouts, as well as seeing stars,” she describes.

Walter Massett was an early walker, taking his first steps at 10 months old. By March 2020, just shy of his second birthday, Walter’s mom, Rae-Anne, noticed Walter having some trouble with his balance and mobility. Walter had frequent ear infections, so Rae-Anne thought it could be yet another one throwing off his balance.

When Bonnie Stocking met Erin Lovell, she knew she’d found someone special. “We connected immediately,” Bonnie says. “As soon as we saw each other, we were all in.” It was young love, which took a serious turn at the get-go.

It’s hard to capture an infectious giggle in words, but that’s exactly what you get when you speak to Alicia. Living with a brain tumour has been a lifelong endeavor for her. She was diagnosed at just six months old, and has undergone six brain surgeries, experienced loss of vision, and complications from multiple medications. 

In early 2020, as the world dealt with the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic, 26-year-old Elman Mirzaei faced even more uncertainty. He woke up one morning to two paramedics looking over him, after his girlfriend (now-wife), Esther, noticed him having a seizure in his sleep and called for help. Elman didn’t recall it happening.

In 2017, 24-year-old Laura Thompson was living her dream, having just co-founded a natural skincare company, now known as Three Ships. She’d been having what she thought were minor episodes, where for 10 to 15 seconds she felt a strong disassociation between her mind and her body.

Kelly Dubuc’s son, Sam, has been easygoing from day one. “He was just chill out of the gates,” Kelly, of Guelph, Ont., recalls. “I called the nurse in after he was born and said, ‘I think there’s something wrong with him. He never cries.’ She put her hand on my shoulder and said, ‘Consider yourself lucky. You’ve got an easy baby.’” Through the years, he’s maintained the same happy, positive attitude.

It’s not something that you’d expect to hear from anyone, however, brain tumour survivor Jedro Magtoto says the prospect of losing his life made him start living it on his own terms. For years, Jedro worked in a corporate sales position, succeeding at his work, but feeling incredibly unfulfilled.

Rebecca Grundy believed in using her voice for change. She’d been working as a government lobbyist for the Progressive Conservative (PC) party in Ontario and as a successful public relations and communications professional. In the latter, she worked on campaigns for Rethink Breast Cancer and lobbied to bring Novocure’s Optune device, a wearable treatment for glioblastoma, to Canada.

Nicole Atkinson has been active all her life, taking part in activities like hiking, snowboarding, lacrosse and hockey. In fact, she’s fresh off the ice from a hockey game when she takes the call to share her story—a testament to how far she’s come since that day she suffered a seizure in August 2022.

When I think of my dad, I think of his smile first, and the chuckle that would usually follow it. Dad—whose name was Alvin Rehberg, or ‘Big Al’ to his friends—was a solid six-foot-three, with arms I always felt safe in. He loved his girls—me and my younger sister, Hayley—more than anything, and I never doubted that he would be there if we needed him.

Looking at a photo of Haley Toomey and her mom, Cayla, the resemblance is uncanny. With the same cheerful smile, bright eyes and blonde hair, there’s no doubt the pair is mother and daughter. “She couldn’t deny me if she tried,” Haley says, laughing.

Before and after is something that resonates with Claire Snyman. In her “before,” she was born in South Africa, where she met her husband. The pair moved to Sydney, Australia, and then to Vancouver, B.C., where they welcomed their son. It was on May 18, 2010, that the “after” would begin. “You know how it is when you remember these things?” Claire asks. “That’s when things changed.”

Not many can say they’ve represented their country on a world stage, where they’ve showcased their phenomenal athleticism. Or, that they did it while visually impaired, a lasting effect of a brain tumour that led to two surgeries—all while balancing university studies and keeping a positive attitude.

For four days straight, I'd been seeing double multiple times a day—watching TV, squinting at my computer screen, or just gazing out the living room window. It didn’t particularly hurt, but it did come with a side of the wobbles. I called around to a few optometry clinics to book an appointment. No dice.

Jane McNulty-Smith lived a content and blissfully “normal” life in Newmarket, Ont., where she raised two kids, Darryl and Pamela, with her husband, Steve. That would change when she received her own diagnosis of glioblastoma.

Lyndsay Horrigan was getting regular headaches, to the point they were becoming her normal. As an assistant executive housekeeper at a hotel in Edmonton, Alta., and mom to then-four-year-old, Olivia, Lyndsay’s headaches began interrupting her job and her family life.

Dave Fleischer’s symptoms were easy enough to explain away. His eyesight was deteriorating, but then again, most of his family members wore glasses. His hearing was worsening, but hearing loss ran in his family, too.

Sitting in what she calls “the shack,” her home on the beach in Port Stanley, Ont., Mallory (or Mal, as she’s known to those close to her) smiles as she talks about how fortunate she is.

Traci Chambers’ relationship with Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada dates back to 2017, soon after she’d been diagnosed with an acoustic neuroma tumour.

Tracy Leipsic has always lived an active life. A speedskater in her youth, she’s stayed connected with the community as a Speedskating Manitoba board member and an official with speedskating in Canada.

"You are not alone." It’s a phrase that can transform lives. Allow me to introduce myself: my name is Marlène Dubé. At 65, I am a woman full of joy, living single and childfree.

Onix Collette was only in third grade when her mom, Brandi Massina, was diagnosed with a brain tumour. Brandi was young herself, having welcomed Onix while she was still in high school.

Meegan Campbell was a new, single mom, settling into life with her six-month-old son, Dallas. She’d taken maternity leave from her work as a high school teacher, specializing in co-operative education.

For Melissa and Evan Funk, Steinbach, Man. is home. It’s where they grew up, where they raise their own family—daughters Adalyn, five years old, and Raya, four years old—and where they run a successful serveware company.

If there’s one word that best fits Anita Wilson, it’s growth. She does have a green thumb, having taken an interest in horticulture and pursuing it as a career choice.

At 17 years old, Will Burleigh is looking towards the next chapter of his life. A Grade 12 student in Grimsby, Ont., Will has a passion for golf and aspires to play at the post-secondary level, focusing on Phys Ed or kinesiology in his studies.

It’s hard not to smile when speaking with Jeff Wagner. His positivity is infectious, and his desire to better himself, even in the face of adversity, is nothing short of inspiring.

I went into nursing because I like taking care of people. It gave me first-hand experience of how difficult life can be, especially when going through a difficult healthcare scenario if you don’t have the correct support in place.

His wife, Jessica, was a well-loved grade one teacher in Brampton’s Rowntree Montessori Schools. To this day, Blake admires and adores her selfless dedication to the community.

“When you’ve worked towards a certain goal your entire life, it is very difficult to have that all crumble down. […]

Jeffrey and Susan’s story is about love, gratitude, family, community, strength, and support.

Debbie Slavik is a 50-year brain tumour survivor and is one of the very few from the time of her diagnosis in 1972, when she was only thirteen years of age.

You can live to 99 and still not accomplish everything on your list. “As parents, you have dreams and aspirations […]

"My cousin Ava Broomes continually experienced excruciating headaches daily. She was diagnosed with high grade glioma,” explains Savannah Swift.

“He was larger than life; in stature, personality, and his impact on others, and is deeply missed by his family, colleagues and friends,” Sarah Orsini lovingly remembers of her husband, Chris Moore.

Alexander became a very positive male influence on her sons’ lives and helped to raise his grandchildren, from the ages of 6-15.

“My dad was the go-to guy. He would go anywhere or do anything. So, when he needed me, I was there.

Dave Robertson’s profession is in the agricultural and farming sector as a sales Manager for Bayer CropScience Canada. “I look […]

Tasha Finley describes her son Kaiden as a “quiet guy, until he got to know you. Then his humour would […]

It was only three days after Megan Cavender celebrated her 29th birthday, when she gave birth to her third child. […]

“It’s not like me to be so public regarding my life, let alone my health. I have overcome what I […]

How I Ended My Toxic Relationship with a Meningioma! I received a diagnosis of a brain tumour in August 2021. […]

My name is Sylvie and I am from the Montreal, Quebec area. My story began after taking a simple eye […]