Name
Benjamin Thomas Lee

Brain Tumor Type
Glioma

Date of Diagnosis
09/2020

Participant Group
Brain Tumor Survivor / 13 - 20 Years of age

Category
Photography/Digital Art

Artist Statement (include type of art, techniques & materials used, what it means to you)
This is a photograph of our beloved family cat! He's the oldest of our three kitties and our one dog. Even though he's quite senior, he keeps an eye on the house and the whole property. He’s definitely the boss and ensures that all the other pets behave and don't get out of line!

Artist Bio: Tell Us Your Story
Hi I'm Ben, I've been fighting for as long as I can remember—since I was just 2 years old. By now, I've been through 3 brain surgeries, 2 brain tumors, and even an aneurysm. For 5 ½ amazing years, I thought I had finally beaten cancer. I could just be a kid again, living life without the worry of what was next. But in August 2020, my world changed all over again when I found out that the cancer was back. Two nodules had shown up in the same spot where my first tumor was in 2014. It was a tough blow, but I’m not giving up.
I am four and a half years cancer-free—it’s a big deal, and I know it’s something to be grateful for. Still, it’s hard not to think about the "what ifs." What if it comes back? When could that happen? I try not to let those thoughts take over, even though I know they’re always in the back of my mind—and my families too. But even with all of that, we keep going, finding ways to live life the best we can. It’s what we have to do.