Chad Czapor's Story.
People always have events and situations that change their life forever, whether it is a death of a family member or a great moment in a sporting event life, as we know it can change in an instant. I, on the other hand, have a day in my life that effected me for the present and will carry into my future.
On April 30, 2008 I was driving home from school to get ready for the North vs. South Women's Varsity Soccer game. Everything was normal while I was stopped in traffic when all of a sudden I heard crunch, crunch, crunch and then BAM! I was in my car, a four-car pile up with all four cars being totaled.
Everyone was virtually fine until we went to the hospital. At the hospital I was routinely checked for injuries. I had x-ray, Ct scans of my neck and back. There I was shocked to find that in routinely checking for automobile accident injuries a mass was seen in my cervical spine and brain. The head Dr. was called to the Emergency Room and told us that he would like to see us first thing the next morning. I then ran many different scenarios in my head from what I thought to be the worst scenario to the best scenario. The next morning came around and I found myself being more anxious about this unusual mass in my head. The Dr brought us in to his office to tell us the horrific news that I had a brain tumor in the most dangerous spot to have surgery on. At this very moment my life flashed in front of my eyes. Does this mean I am going to die? Be paralyzed? Will I ever be normal again?
I was so upset by this news that I personally shut down for a week not talking to family or even my best friends. The uncertainty of not knowing what will happen next scared the living day lights out of me. If that wasn’t bad enough, the more specialists I went to see the worse the scenarios got. From stating that I had Cancer the spread threw out my brain and there is nothing to do but make me comfortable for the remainder of my days to lets try surgery and hope you survive! To me it was a huge let down. I have only lived for 17 years and this is Gods next step? I had no faith left.
As discs of my tumor were being sent all across the county, one found its way to a Dr in New York. We met with him and he told us he would do the surgery and I would survive. I felt like the weight of the world was lifted off my shoulders. Even as he explained the many complications I could have from the tumor there was something about this man that I trusted. He gave me hope of a normal life again. Finally, I could breathe.
My next hurdle was dealing with an insurance company who did not want to pay for my surgery. Many hours were spent just fighting to get to the date of surgery. Finally I find a Dr. who is able to help and now an insurance company has the right to decide whether or not I can have the surgery done by the only man qualified to do it? This again will make you test your faith in the world and God. As the battle went on many of my friends, teachers, and my community band together to help in raising funds that would help allow me the chance to have the surgery I needed to survive. It was truly amazing to see and experience the love I felt by so many people.
On July 21, 2008 I went into surgery most confident that I would survive and be strong again. After a ten-hour surgery I was on my way to recovery. I did have complications and at one point I was near death but after a second surgery to relieve the fluid in my brain I began to slowly heal. It is now almost three months after my last surgery. I have taken many steps in my road to recovery and all of them necessary to do in order to get back to living 100% of my life. With out these dates of hardship I believe I would not be alive today. I have watched an entire community that I live in as they supported me and prayed for me unconditionally. It has taught me to have faith again and in my darkest moment to keep fighting. I have changed in my life in the way that I know how important it is to fight for everything you believe in. You can never give up. Life is worth fighting for. Failure is not an option.
I am grateful for all of my friends and family, and all the wonderful Drs and nurses in St Luke's Roosevelt Hospital who cared for me round the clock. Without them none of this would be possible.