“Nothing is impossible, the word itself says ‘I’m possible’!”

~ Audrey Hepburn ~

Impossible… ten letters that form a word that can have a massive impact on how you approach something and situations.  The word can force you to avoid or run and hide when, in fact, the somethings and situations just might be possible.  There are times when the option to run from the seemingly impossible does not exist because this option to run, quite frankly, may lead to death.

Have you ever been forced to come to grips with your own mortality?  For those who have been on the receiving end of, “You have cancer…”, facing one’s mortality becomes a body and soul numbing reality.  Give some thought to how you would handle it.  While you are doing that, let me introduce you to a young lady who faced the impossible and kicked it right in the chops at the very young age of 13!  I had the honor of sitting down with her and her mother to hear her story and hear what she wanted the world to know.  Her story is one of inspiration, determination, bravery, grit, and oozes with the kind of courage most can only dream of. So, ladies and gentlemen, without further ado, I introduce to you Gracie Snyder. Here is her story…

On May 28, 2014 at the age of 13 and in 7th grade, Gracie was diagnosed with a Astrocytoma, a brain tumor that was located in the front of the brain positioned between her eyes.  When I ask what the events were leading up to the diagnosis, Gracie explained it to me like this (slightly more fun than her mother’s description).

“We were playing Ten Base in gym class.  The ball was kicked into a corner where it went between the wall without padding and the bleachers.  I was running to get it and I was going too fast. I went to grab the ball and I didn’t get it because my head is too big and my arms are too short.”  (insert giggles during the interview)

Gracie fell and hit her head causing her to go unconscious.  As it turned out, this fall saved her life.  At the emergency room Gracie started to come around and she said she felt fine and wanted to go home.  Mother’s intuition said, “No.  Let’s stay and get it checked out.”  The CAT Scan showed something on her brain and Gracie was rushed to Upstate Medical Center.  The MRI showed the walnut-sized tumor.  On July 17, 2014 she underwent surgery to remove the tumor.  But, the surgery didn’t go as planned.

The procedure was supposed to be quick with ten days in the hospital.  The original plan was to pull the tumor through her nose rather than cut into her skull.  Gracie’s scans were viewed by top specialist in Germany. They all agreed this approach was not an option.  Gracie was admitted on July 16th.  Electrodes were connected to map her brain to see where they were going to go in.  The procedure was supposed to be a six-hour surgery.  As soon as they opened her up, they saw the tumor was much larger than expected.  It had spider webbed into the ventricles of her brain.  The surgeons had to instantly come up with a brand new plan.  The surgeon made an incision across the top of her head and down the side and an attempt to get as much of the tumor as possible was underway.  Unfortunately, the tumor had wrapped itself around the optical nerve.  If the doctor had pulled any more on the tumor it would have resulted in blindness.  The tumor was also too close to the pituitary gland causing the surgeon to leave some of it behind. This grueling surgery ended up being twelve torturous hours.  Gracie did not wake up for three days after the surgery.  I can not begin to imagine how agonizing this was for her mother.

Gracie then began to have clinical seizures.  To make matters even worse, the drain tube in her head broke as they were taking it out.  Gracie had to undergo another procedure to have it removed.  The next few weeks were spent in the pediatric intensive care unit.

With some of the tumor remaining in Gracie’s brain, she had to undergo very intense chemotherapy treatments.  Every Wednesday for twelve weeks Gracie got out of bed, followed the same routine and headed out the door for treatments.  The rest of the day on Wednesday and the entire next day she felt horrible, tried not to vomit, slept and wouldn’t talk to anyone.  Being a cancer survivor myself, I can completely relate to every part of this.  But, the thing about Gracie is she never once felt sorry for herself.  And, this is where the real story begins…

After Gracie was diagnosed with a brain tumor, had surgery and went through treatments, she had to learn how to walk and talk all over again and still struggles with her memory.  Her mother said the situation was like having a baby all over again.  Speech, cognitive and occupational therapy were on the slate for rehabilitation.  Both Mom and Gracie persevered with determination and hard work.

Sitting down to talk with Gracie, I found myself going through a truck load of emotions as I listened to her tell me about the actions of friends and family as she went through all of this.  Then, I listened to her describe her philosophy, her attitude and sense of humor with the entire situation.  I quickly realized this young lady was faced with the impossible and embraced the “I’m Possible”!

Before her diagnosis she was a typical teenager with a ton of friends and never being home.  When she was first diagnosed many of her friends were there for her and wanted to help.  Once she started chemo treatments, the list of “friends” dwindled to just a few people.  Now many of the “friends” don’t talk to her.  Gracie believes some of her friends think the brain tumor is contagious and they want to stay away.  Others may not have liked her sudden weight gain.  When the surgeon remove the tumor away from her pituitary gland it allowed her body to begin to mature properly and put on healthy weight.  She went from 80 pounds to just over 100 pounds.  I hope with all of my heart this is not the reason some of her friends have stayed away from her.  How very shameful this would be.

I asked Gracie what she wanted to tell the world.  Listening to her response, I found myself becoming emotional and grew even more proud of her.  Here is what she wants you to know. “I never gave up.  I don’t want to be treated differently.  I’m not the girl with the brain tumor or the sick kid.  I’m going through something a little tough.  I’m just a little different version of me.  To me it’s just another bump in the road. I don’t see it as a big deal.  It’s Wednesday… Chemo… OK, here we go.  We had a routine and just did it.”

“Something a little tough.”  Are you kidding me?  This young lady is awe-inspiring!

When Gracie saw the other children in the hospital who were going through chemo as well she realized her situation was not as bad as it could be.  The other children were much worse than she was.  She also spoke of her friend from school, Robert, who recently passed away and battled leukemia.  Gracie said,”I have a brain tumor.  Whoopdeedoo. I’m still here.”.  She said the whole experience was life changing.

The extraordinary thing about Gracie is she never once felt sorry for herself; not about the treatments, the disappearing friends, the family member who should have been by her side and wasn’t…  She has not one ounce of “poor me” in her.  Gracie’s sense of humor about the whole experience is spectacular.  Because of her memory issue, she calls herself Dory (“Finding Nemo” movie reference) and refers to the small tumor that remains as her squirrel brain.  I have personally witnessed Gracie’s determination on the field hockey field.  She has an incredible never give up attitude that, as a coach, I wish I could bottle.  Her drive, tenacity, grit, and perseverance are extraordinary.

Gracie is a remarkable young lady who sees her glass as half full.  What could have been a murky, cloudy, nasty view through glasses is definitely clear, lustrous and rose-colored.  Gracie has outmaneuvered adversity with dignity, class and maturity that some adults lack.  She is spectacular!

Fighting cancer takes guts, courage, strength, conviction, a never quit attitude, and an amazing support system.  Gracie has it all and then some.  Some would see a brain tumor as an impossible battle.  Gracie looked at it and said, “I’m possible” and kicked it right in the chops!

Gracie & her mom, Michelle            Gracie & Beth, a hospital volunteer