Bronx Student Overcomes 3 Brain Tumor Operations to Go to College
Diagnosed in fifth grade, Robert Chapman hasn’t let his brain tumors stop him from attending Mercy College this fall.
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“He has overcome so many obstacles in his life that anything laid before him, he will rise to the occasion,” All Hallows School President Sean Sullivan said.
But his path has been anything but easy. In 2014, Chapman was faced with discovering another tumor, this one pressing against his optic nerve and causing him temporary blindness. A year later, doctors found a third tumor. Both were removed, meaning that Chapman is now considered tumor-free.
“I’m proud of it, because I tell my grandmother all the time it’s a battle scar,” Chapman said. “It’s not something to be ashamed of.”
Not only has Chapman’s continuing perseverance through his adversaries motivated himself, but also the people around him, such as his mother, who has Multiple sclerosis.
“Seeing him supersede so much tells me I’m going to be okay, because look at everything he’s been through and he’s still standing strong,” Catherine Cabassa said.
He has kept his head up high throughout the multiple surgeries and medications, as he graduated on time from high school this past June and got accepted into Mercy College. He hopes to attend medical school after that.
“Don’t take life for granted. Live every day and… cherish it,” Chapman said. “Basically cherish everything that you get.”
Main Image: Chapman at graduation. Credit Spectrum News
