Cancer survivor has birthday with Elton John

Breanna Pfllaumer turned 21 years old last month and celebrated the way most young adults want to mark that big day -- with a trip to Vegas.

But Breanna is not like most young adults. The fact that she celebrated her 21stbirthday is testament to a very skilled pediatric neurosurgeon, Breanna’s unending supply of determination and strength, and her family’s ability to weather the uncertainty of their daughter’s battle with brain cancer.

When Breanna was only 13 years old and a freshman in high school, she was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor. Her doctors gave her three weeks to three months to live. That was eight years ago. 

Breanna had initially been treated for her suddenly stunted growth. The doctor she was seeing blamed her small stature on an eating disorder. After 10 months, what doctors finally saw was a tumor in her brain. Surgery removed a very small, and ultimately, inadequate sample. Based on that sample, her doctors told Breanna and her family that she was nearing the end of her life.

The family went into crisis mode and traveled far away for experimental treatments for that type of tumor. The treatments didn’t help, likely because Breanna had a different type of tumor. Instead, she had a highly treatable form of pediatric brain cancer which, if found early, is most often surgically removed and cured.

According to her father, Tom, the many delays by their HMO allowed Breanna's tumor to continue to grow and it did, indeed, become nearly inoperable and potentially deadly.

Long story short, Breanna’s family found a brilliant surgeon at UCLA and, after much discussion with her HMO, her surgeon was finally allowed to operate.

After more brain surgeries than I can count and two strokes that have left her struggling to overcome partial paralysis, Breanna beat the odds and graduated high school. She triumphantly received her diploma to the roar of a packed stadium standing on its feet and screaming with joy.

It seemed like Breanna was now headed for her new life adventures, like other graduates. But, because  the tumor could not be completely removed, there have been more medical crises accompanied by miraculous strides forward.

Which takes us to Breanna’s  adventures in Vegas. She said it was a great family trip where she had her “first” drink -- a strawberry daiquiri. OK, maybe not her very first. The main event awaiting Breanna was an Elton John concert.

Breanna’s attendance was no secret to Sir Elton. He entertained the whole family backstage before the concert, regaling them with genuine sweetness and war stories of his good friend, the late Freddie Mercury. Of course, they had supreme seats. But then Sir Elton went the extra mile. During the concert, he wished Breanna a happy birthday and dedicated a song to her.

A bold ride on the Las Vegas zipline and other fun stuff completed Breanna’s celebration.

But life is never a straight line for her and she had been having trouble walking before the trip. During the visit, Breanna had a terrible time walking. She had endured previous surgery for a cyst on her spine a while ago and now another cyst had formed on her spine.

After coming back home and going through another back surgery, Breanna recovered quickly. Then it hit her, pain in her head unlike anything she had ever known.

A trip to the ER revealed a clogged shunt in her brain and a few days later, her magnificent surgeon again helped her get past the crisis. Breanna is now home and resting up. Her father assured me that she is doing well now.

I have written several articles about Breanna and her astonishing life and I will continue to report on her progress. Knowing Breanna and her family has been one of the highlights of living in Moorpark. Being able to tell others about her makes it that much better.

Happy birthday, young lady, and watch those daiquiris, they can sneak up on you.