Hi. My name is Tasneem (TeS-neeem) and I am a tumour survivor. I suffer from one of the most ultra rare diseases in the world that only a few hundred people have been affected by: Lhermitte Duclose Disease, or LDD.
I was born in Egypt; that was my first home. However, my life made a significant turn for the worse when I was 6 months old. I started to show some unusual signs of poor health and eventually went to the doctor at 9 months where they performed a bunch of tests and found out I had a significant benign tumour pushing against my brain – I was dying, with only a single month left to live.
Thankfully, a couple of weeks later, we were fortunate to visit the U.S., where I went under for brain surgery at UC Davis Children’s Hospital at 10 months old on July 10, 2010 and was given a second chance at life.
I am now 16 years old. I love to bake, sing and I love- love -LOVE music which is why my biggest dream is to become a super star, and a nurse at the same hospital that saved my life.
Having moved out of Egypt at almost 4 years of age, currently residing here in the U.S., constantly being checked at UC Davis for ongoing health challenges and cancer risks. I believe that no human should ever hear the words my family heard the day we found out I was sick. However, when life happens I want them to know that they are not alone. The fight is not over yet, my name is Tasneem and I am a Tumour survivor, standing tall on behalf of every other survivor out there, on a journey for a cause – to bring comfort to those like, and around me.
Thank you,
– Tasneem Palacios
Children’s Miracle Network Hospital patient
