My name is Juano Ocampo and I am a two time, back to back brain cancer survivor. I was first diagnosed in June of 2008 with symptoms that started a year prior to this date. Symptoms including unrelenting thirst, severe headaches, nausea and vomiting, blurred vision, body numbness, and seizures. The very first symptom that came was the severe thirst for water. Thirst that became severe through each passing month and just craving for water every 20 minutes. The next symptom came next and this inflicted pain beyond belief. The unbearable headaches that led to the upcoming conditions. Nausea and vomiting, double vision, body numbness and seizures. All of these lasted six months from December of 2007 to the very day I was rushed to the hospital.
I was rushed to Harbor UCLA Medical Center on June 8th, 2008 with an unrelenting and unbearable headache alongside severe nausea and vomiting, tingling and numbness and unexplained shaking that were seizures. As soon as the long drive was done, we immediately parked in front of the ER area and my dad requested the staff a gurney for me. My whole body was in complete numbness that it was difficult for me to be in motion to the gurney, so the medical staff themselves carried me from inside the car to the gurney. They rushed me inside for ct scan procedure and the results confirmed that the CSF (Cerebra, Spinal, Fluids) were blocked by a huge mass on the area of the Pineal Gland a vital part of the brain for the fluids to flow. This caused the severe headaches that led to its other sinister symptoms.
The staff then decided to rush me to emergency surgery for a temporary tube to placed on my head to drain the blocked fluids inside my head. They prepped me for surgery and inserted the painful catheter in my private area. This moment was so tough that I had to call my dad for comfort. As I held his hands he started crying. This bothered me the most due to the fact that my dad never cried for once in my life prior to that happening. I looked in front of me I saw my big sister crying as well. The moment I saw tears in their eyes I was silent but completely bothered by the events happening that very moment.
The medical team then rushed me for surgery and when everything was done I woke up in the ICU (Intensive Care Unit). I had no recalling of what took place the day before. I was stunned by where I was. I had tubes all around and an EKG machine beeping at the same time. The nurse came in, and I asked him what happened? He answered the chilling lines that to this day are as fresh in my memory. He said that I was rushed here yesterday with a severe headache, nausea, and vomiting alongside body numbness. I was scheduled for an MRI, and it confirmed that I had Pineal Germinoma.
I underwent shunt surgery, 7 cycles of chemo total, radiation and stem cell transplant. But all of these experiences fueled the passion once lost, which is basketball. Letting go of all the doubts and turning the worst as the inspiration for all possibilities. I am now also the author of the book titled “IMPOSSIBLE TO I’M POSSIBLE.” It depicts the inspiring journey that turned adversity to opportunity.
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