I'm Eva. 49 years old (almost). On the day of my 45th birthday, I woke up in hospital, in the ICU. Within a few days, I was unable to walk independently and lost all feeling in the left side of my body. I couldn’t stand or crawl without falling over. My sight and hearing were also impacted. I had had a brainstem stroke caused by a bleeding cavernoma (a rare type of brain tumor).

One month later, I had a life threatening brainstem surgery. After that, I tried everything that could help me to function again. To walk, feel, see, talk and hear as I had done before. I was (and still am) in constant pain, fatigued, dizzy and unable to feel the left side of my body. Overall though, my recovery was going well.

Then, 14 months after my surgery, my condition suddenly got worse. I started having issues I did not have before and everything, including walking or balancing, became even more challenging. I developed  a rare and incurable post-surgery complication called hypertrophic olivary degeneration, or HOD (a degenerative brain condition). It felt like I was starting from zero again. I did not feel the energy to go through everything again.

To say that during all this I sometimes felt down would be an understatement. I can never fully recover or live as I did before, and will always live with  limitations. I have a great and supportive family, but it has still been difficult for them to understand what I have been dealing with. 

I was lucky to discover the Cavernoma Society. They offered me a lot of free support - information about my condition, educational workshops, free psychotherapy sessions (something I can't thank them enough for). They were always there for me, knowing exactly what I was dealing with, always happy to talk in person if I needed.

I dare to say that I am happy again. I enjoy life a lot although I am living very differently now. Life is difficult but beautiful!

I live in Singapore and I pledge to walk the Coast to Coast Trail (Central), 36km. Walking is difficult for me. I usually can't walk more than 3 to 5km in one day. It will be a challenge but I am excited about it. 

Please sponsor me. All the funds raised will go to the Cavernoma Society so that they can continue the brilliant work they do.