Both of my parents have been there ever since my diagnosis at 19 years old. My father stayed beside me every night at the hospital and during recovery, even sleeping on the floor if necessary. He also cleaned my incision scar, and he has always given me encouragement and love every step of the way. My mother left her job to take care of me full-time during both surgeries. She’s the one who fed me, bathed me, and clothed me. She also made sure I was maintaining my cognitive function by doing puzzles, word games, and other cognitive therapy exercises. My mom has also come to almost all of my follow-up MRI appointments with me to make sure I was continuing to progress well and to calm my nerves. Without either of them, I would not be here today.