Lenamarie M. Mendoza, from San Pascual Batangas, Philippines, was diagnosed with Neurofibromatosis type 2 in August 2002. When she was in high school she was a drummer of an all-girl band in her school. Music then was her passion, she noticed that there was a decreased level of hearing in her right ear, but she considered that normal cause due to the loud environment by playing the drums.

When she enrolled in college she needed to stop for a year because of a surgery that removed her tumor at the back. She later found that she had NF2. She noticed, over time, that her hearing had become worse especially on the right. Lenamarie persevered and graduated with a degree of Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering on April 2006. She became a Registered Electrical Engineer at the same time a Registered Master Electrician and a member of Institute of Integrated Electrical Engineers of the Philippines.

Her MRI in 2013 revealed tumors on the left end just right of cranial nerves which deteriorated even more of her hearing in both ears rendering her deaf and also has made her lose her ability to walk normally due to tumors in her spine.She is losing it all and realizing that she can no longer keep playing the drums, but she will not lose her spirit and faith. NF is a continuing life battle. In her words, "You’ll never know when the tumor strikes again, and every treatment is of without risks. You’ll never know when you will be deaf, blind or paralyzed. It is not considered cancer and people rarely notice, but it can be worse than that. It is draining to body and spirit but I need to fight and continue my life."

RACHEL MINDRUP

RACHEL MINDRUP