Every July 22nd, we observe World Brain Awareness Day—on this day I want to bring awareness about living with a Meningioma Brain Tumor. It’s a time to bring attention to the health and well-being of the most complex organ in the human body: the brain. The brain commands every breath, every thought, every heartbeat. It is the seat of memory, emotion, movement, and identity. When something affects the brain, it doesn’t just touch one part of life—it touches everything.
One such condition that silently affects thousands each year is a meningioma—a type of brain tumor that often flies under the radar until it starts to cause significant symptoms. Despite being one of the more common types of brain tumors, many people remain unaware of what a meningioma is, how it impacts a person’s life, and the surprising lessons and blessings that can emerge from such a diagnosis.
This article will explore what it means to live with a meningioma brain tumor—medically, emotionally, and spiritually—and how people can find strength, purpose, and even joy amid a journey that once seemed filled with fear.
What is a Meningioma?
A meningioma is a tumor that forms in the meninges—the protective membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord. These tumors are most commonly benign (non-cancerous), but their location inside the skull can still lead to significant neurological symptoms as they grow and press on vital structures in the brain.
Meningiomas account for approximately one-third of all primary brain tumors, and they occur more frequently in women than in men, particularly between the ages of 40 and 70.
While many people live symptom-free for years, others face challenges such as:
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Headaches
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Memory problems
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Vision changes
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Seizures
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Muscle weakness
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Mood disturbances
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Personality changes
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Difficulty speaking or understanding language
Some tumors grow so slowly they are only discovered during imaging for another condition. Others require surgery, radiation, or long-term monitoring. Regardless of the approach, the diagnosis can be life-changing.
The Emotional Impact of a Meningioma Diagnosis
Being told you have a tumor growing in your brain—benign or not—is terrifying. For many, the word “tumor” alone triggers thoughts of death, disability, and disconnection from everything they once knew. The mental and emotional toll can be staggering, especially for women who may already be managing careers, families, or personal trauma.
A diagnosis of meningioma can feel like your entire identity is threatened:
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Who am I now that my brain is “sick”?
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Will I be the same after treatment?
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How will my family cope with this?
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Will I lose my ability to speak, move, or remember my loved ones?
These questions can lead to anxiety, depression, and deep spiritual questioning. It can also revive old traumas or bring dormant fears to the surface.
But in the darkness of these questions, many find something else stirring—a desire to fight, to live, and to find meaning even in suffering.
Common Challenges Faced by Meningioma Patients
Living with or recovering from a meningioma involves many layers of healing. Here are a few of the most common difficulties faced:
1. Cognitive and Emotional Changes
Meningiomas can affect memory, focus, emotional regulation, and executive functioning. You might forget simple things, feel unusually irritable, or cry without knowing why. For many, this is the most difficult part—feeling like a stranger in their own mind.
2. Surgical Recovery
Brain surgery (called a craniotomy) may be necessary to remove the tumor. Recovery from brain surgery is not like recovering from a broken leg—it involves relearning, rest, and enormous emotional resilience.
3. Loss of Independence
Simple tasks like driving, working, or cooking may become dangerous or impossible for a time. Relying on others can feel humbling or even humiliating, especially for those used to being caregivers themselves.
4. Physical Symptoms
From numbness to weakness to headaches and fatigue, the physical toll of meningioma can linger long after treatment. Some symptoms never fully disappear.
5. Financial and Lifestyle Changes
Time off work, medical bills, or switching careers due to cognitive impairment can impact lifestyle. Relationships may also shift as partners and friends adjust to new realities.
The Unexpected Positives: Blessings Amid the Burden
As hard as it is to imagine, many who have walked through the valley of meningioma diagnosis and recovery speak of unexpected blessings. Not because the tumor itself was good—but because the journey awakened something deeper, purer, and eternal within them.
1. A New Appreciation for Life
When you’ve faced a threat to your brain—your very sense of self—you begin to appreciate simple things in profound ways. A sunrise. A child’s laughter. Being able to hold a spoon or remember your favorite song.
You stop rushing. You stop assuming. You start living.
2. Closer Relationships
Being vulnerable draws out the best in others. Many survivors report closer relationships with spouses, children, siblings, and friends. People rally around you—and your authenticity invites theirs.
3. Spiritual Awakening
A brain tumor invites big questions: Why me? Why now? What do I believe? Many survivors turn more deeply to faith. Whether through prayer, scripture, or spiritual community, they begin to see life through an eternal lens. God’s presence becomes more real than ever.
4. Discovering Inner Strength
Many who once saw themselves as weak or unworthy discover their strength. They fought for their life, their mind, and their peace—and won. They now carry wisdom and compassion that only hardship can teach.
5. Becoming an Advocate
After recovery, many survivors use their story to help others—speaking at events, writing, raising awareness, or volunteering at hospitals. Their pain becomes a platform for purpose.
Living with Hope: Faith and Healing After Diagnosis
One of the most powerful aspects of healing from a meningioma—especially for women of faith—is learning to trust God with every unknown. The Bible reminds us:
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
—Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)
God’s plan does not exclude suffering—but it redeems it.
Whether healing is immediate or slow… whether you’re fully restored or learning to live with limitations… there is a greater story being written. The God who made your brain knows how to heal it. And even in the waiting, He walks with you.
You may find healing in prayer, journaling, meditating on scripture, or simply resting in God’s presence when words fail. Psalm 46:1 says, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”
Tips for Thriving with a Meningioma
If you or someone you love is living with a meningioma, here are practical ways to support healing and live with hope:
1. Prioritize Rest and Nutrition
Your brain needs fuel and rest to heal. Don’t rush the process. Eat nutrient-rich foods, stay hydrated, and sleep when your body asks for it.
2. Join a Support Group
Many communities have brain tumor support groups. Online spaces like Facebook groups or forums can also connect you with those who understand.
3. Journal Your Journey
Keep a journal of your thoughts, prayers, fears, and victories. It will help you track your healing and give you insight when you feel stuck.
4. Set Boundaries
Energy is precious. Learn to say “no” without guilt and prioritize what truly matters.
5. Embrace Your New Identity
You are not broken. You are becoming. Your scars tell a story of survival, strength, and transformation.
A Message of Encouragement to Survivors
Dear friend, if you are reading this and living with—or recovering from—a meningioma, I want you to hear this:
You are not alone.
You are not weak.
You are not forgotten.
Your diagnosis is not the end of your story—it’s the beginning of a deeper one. A story of resilience, of healing, of finding God in places you never imagined.
Let today—World Brain Awareness Day—be your turning point. Let it be the day you stop merely surviving and begin thriving. Speak your truth. Share your story. Ask for help. Offer hope. Connect with me.
And above all, know that you are deeply loved by the God who holds every neuron in your mind and every beat of your heart.
Conclusion
A meningioma brain tumor may challenge your body, shake your mind, and disrupt your plans—but it can also awaken your spirit, deepen your relationships, and strengthen your faith.
Let World Brain Awareness Day be a reminder not only of the fragility of life but of its beauty. Of the power of the human brain—and the even greater power of the human spirit when touched by God’s grace.
You are more than your MRI, your symptoms, or your scars.
You are a living miracle.
Tonni Lea Larson, Thriving in life for 17 1/2 years with a meningioma brain tumor https://tonnilea.com/