Article content

Kristina Waldmann is looking forward to going back to school, getting a part-time job, and beginning to volunteer again.

Just thinking about the future, let alone making plans or being excited for what’s down the line, is something the 27-year-old has long avoided.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Six weeks after heading south for costly brain surgery, Calgarian says her symptoms have disappeared Back to video

But six weeks after traveling south for pricey out-of-pocket brain surgery in Houston, Texas, and spending three weeks in the country recovering, Waldmann says she has a new outlook on life.

“I didn’t feel like I was in a liveable life before. Now I’m actually hopeful about the future. I’m very excited,” she said.

After suffering from chronic headaches for years, an MRI found a cystic tumour in the pea-sized pineal gland of Waldmann’s brain three years ago.

In a February interview with the Calgary Herald, Waldmannsaid the tumour left her with debilitating symptoms, including pain, headaches, migraines, visual impairment, nausea and dizziness, and forced her to quit working, studying at the University of Calgary, and volunteering.