ORANGE COUNTY (CALIF.) BRAIN TUMOR WALK HAS NHRA COMMUNITY TIES
Back in June of 2013, Jessica Gallardo’s life changed forever.
Gallardo, a former worker at NHRA, was diagnosed with a brain tumor. In August of that year she underwent a life-threatening 12-hour surgery to remove the golf-ball sized tumor.
“In the beginning it was hard,” said Gallardo, 40. “You have to grasp the fact that you have a brain tumor and emotionally you go through different stages, depression, sadness and fear. Thankfully because I have a great boyfriend and family and a good support system, they actually help me day by day get through it.”
Gallardo acknowledged her family never had any medical history to warn her of her tumor. With that in mind, Gallardo wants to make more people aware of brain tumors and help find a cure for them.
“I didn’t have to go through chemo because they removed the tumor, but there’s a slight chance it could grow back,” Gallardo said. “This has changed my perspective on life greatly. For one thing, my empathy has gone up for anybody battling any type of illness, but especially when it has to do with brain tumors and brain cancer. I haven’t had any relapses since my surgery, but I did have other issues related to the surgery that are kind of long-term, but they pale in comparison to what I have been through.”
To help get the word out about brain tumors and brain cancer, Gallardo is participating in the National Brain Tumor Society Orange County (Calif.) Brain Tumor Walk Sept. 12. The walk will be held at Angel Stadium of Anaheim, the home of Major League Baseball’s Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
People wishing to donate to Jessica’s team for the walk may visit the following website: http://www.braintumorcommunity.org/site/TR/TeamraiserEvents/OrangeCountyBrainTumorWalk?px=3456882&pg=personal&fr_id=2570
A check in Jessica’s name will be donated to the National Brain Tumor Society.
“We are just trying to raise money to help fund research to help find a cure or find a reason why people get brain tumors and brain cancer,” said Gallardo, who resides in San Dimas, Calif.
Donnie Butts, an NHRA Safety Safari member for over 30 years, is glad to be there to support his girlfriend and this cause.
“I want to help Jessica raise awareness and get better research to find a cure so nobody else has to go through this,” Butts said. “We have some pretty notable people who have donated money and a lot of drag racing people. The drag racing community is one big family and we all stick together and I can’t thank them enough.”
Gallardo has a Master’s degree in clinical social work, and she is in the process of trying to find a job.
“I have other symptoms that I’m still dealing with,” Gallardo said. “For instance when I’m on a computer it makes me nauseous and gives me a headache, so we are trying to work through that. It’s a challenge that doesn’t seem to end. I live day-by-day and sometimes moment by moment. Hopefully, because of this experience I can get work helping people get through their own journeys with any type of cancer, but especially brain tumors and brain cancer.”
For more information about the Sept. 12 walk, people can contact Butts at Fueler32@aol.com.