In October 2022, just a month after my 30th birthday, I was diagnosed with grade 4 glioblastoma — a terminal brain cancer. It’s the kind of news that stops everything. A 6.5 cm tumor was discovered, and I underwent a 10-hour craniotomy that removed nearly 90% of it. I recovered well from surgery, but the prognosis was devastating: just 3 to 6 months to live. That was almost a year ago. Since then, I’ve gone through radiation, months of oral chemotherapy, and now I monitor the tumor every few months. It’s currently stable, and while I know that won’t last forever, I’m still here.
Growing up, I dreamed of having a house with a pool — not just for myself, but as a space to gather with friends, laugh, and feel joy. That dream stuck with me. I’ve been doing aqua therapy at my cancer center, and it’s helped me physically and emotionally. But the nearest pool is over an hour away, and having one at home would allow me to keep moving, healing, and connecting — right in my own backyard. More than anything, it would be a place to feel like myself again.
Exa’s LifeList:
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An above ground pool