05/12/2026
Two years ago I had my first MRI and I was convinced the tumor was benign — and that surgery was not the right path for me.
I was right about one thing. Surgery was not my best option. But I was wrong about the tumor itself. This wasn’t a benign schwannoma like I believed. It turned out to be an extraordinarily rare cancer called a malignant melanotic nerve sheath tumor — part of an even rarer genetic condition called Carney complex.
The road since that diagnosis has been humbling, uncertain, and at times incredibly hard. But today’s scan tells a different story — the lesion has reduced in size (slightly), with better organization and clearer margins. The first real, measurable signs that it is all working.
The truth is, my body was tired. That exhaustion created the conditions for this tumor to grow. What I had to learn was that healing required more than medicine — I needed rest. I needed nourishment in every sense of the word. Not just real food, but sunshine, family, and the deep permission to slow down and let myself be held by the people who love me. I’m still working on getting better at that. Intention and Acknowledgment are the first steps.
To everyone who has walked this road with me — thank you. This one’s for all of us. 💙
