There are moments in life that divide everything into “before” and “after.” For Cherie, that moment came with two sudden seizures and a diagnosis that no parent is ever ready to hear: a brain tumor.
One day, her son Corey was planning his future — dreaming big, laughing loudly, and mapping out a life filled with animals, adventure, and possibility. The next, he was lying in a hospital room while doctors explained what they had found on the left temporal lobe of his brain.
At just 20 years old, Corey should be worrying about work schedules, weekend plans, and chasing ambitions — not preparing for brain surgery.
And yet, here they are.
A Young Man with Big Dreams
Corey has always been the kind of young man people naturally gravitate toward. He carries himself with humility and warmth. Friends describe him as dependable. Coworkers admire his work ethic. Family members talk about his generous heart.
Working at Bass Pro Shops near Tyler, Texas, Corey built more than just job experience — he built relationships. Customers remembered his smile. Colleagues appreciated his willingness to step in and help. He never hesitated when someone needed a hand.
But Corey’s dreams stretched far beyond retail counters. He talked excitedly about joining a rodeo team. He imagined a future working closely with horses, possibly becoming an equine veterinarian. His love for animals wasn’t casual — it was a calling. You could see it in his eyes when he spoke about it.
He had plans. He had momentum.
Then October changed everything.
The Seizures That Revealed the Truth
Two seizures struck without warning. For any family, witnessing a seizure is terrifying. For Cherie, it felt like the ground disappeared beneath her feet.
Doctors moved quickly. Tests were ordered. Scans were taken. And then came the words that still echo in her mind: there is a tumor on the left temporal lobe of Corey’s brain.
Measuring 2.3 by 1.2 centimeters, the mass is concerning but not yet fully understood. Physicians believe it is likely benign — a hopeful sign — but certainty will only come after surgery and biopsy.
Surgery is scheduled for January 13.
For the outside world, that date might look like a plan. For a mother, it feels like an eternity.
Every day leading up to it is heavy with uncertainty.
The Weight Only a Parent Understands
There is a particular kind of heartbreak that belongs only to parents — the pain of watching your child suffer while being unable to fix it.
Cherie would trade places in an instant if she could. She would carry the tumor herself. She would take the fear, the anesthesia, the recovery. But love does not grant that power.
Instead, she does what mothers have done since the beginning of time: she stands guard. She stays strong. She holds hope even when her hands tremble.
In quiet moments, the questions creep in. What if the tumor isn’t benign? What if complications arise? What will recovery look like? Will Corey’s speech or memory be affected, given the tumor’s location in the temporal lobe?
The left temporal lobe plays a role in language, memory, and emotional processing. Knowing that only deepens the anxiety.
But still, Cherie shows up with courage.
Because Corey needs her steady.
A Community Rallies
If there is one light shining through this storm, it is the outpouring of support surrounding Corey and his family.
Friends have stepped forward with prayers and encouragement. Coworkers have offered help. Neighbors have shared kind words and messages of strength.
Corey has always been there for others — and now those same people are rallying around him.
That’s the quiet power of a good heart. When you live with kindness, it echoes back to you in times of need.
Cherie has reached out, not because she is weak, but because she understands something powerful: strength multiplies when it is shared.
She has asked for prayers. For advice. For stories from others who have walked this path. She wants to know how to stay strong — not just for today, but for the long road ahead.
And the responses remind her that she is not alone.
Facing January 13
As the surgery date approaches, time feels different. Every normal moment carries extra meaning.
Conversations last longer. Hugs feel tighter. Laughter feels more precious.
Corey, remarkably, remains grounded. There’s a resilience in him that mirrors his mother’s strength. He talks about recovery. He talks about getting back to work. He talks about his future — because he still believes in it.
And so does Cherie.
The surgical team will remove the tumor and send it for biopsy. Only then will the family receive definitive answers. Only then will the next chapter be written.
But here is what is already certain: Corey will not walk into that operating room alone.
He carries with him the love of his family. The prayers of friends. The support of a community that refuses to let him feel isolated in this fight.
The Power of Hope
Hope is not denial. It is not pretending everything will be easy. It is choosing to believe in possibility even when outcomes are uncertain.
Cherie has chosen hope.
She hopes for a benign diagnosis.
She hopes for a successful surgery.
She hopes for a smooth recovery.
She hopes that one day, this chapter will be a story Corey tells — not the story that defines him.
And perhaps the most powerful thing about hope is that it spreads.
Every message of encouragement strengthens her. Every prayer lifts a little weight. Every reminder that others care makes the waiting slightly more bearable.
What This Story Teaches Us
Corey’s journey reminds us of something essential: life can shift in an instant. Plans pause. Certainty dissolves. But love — real, steady love — does not.
The hardest part of being a parent is accepting that you cannot fix everything. You cannot shield your child from every storm. Sometimes, all you can do is stand beside them in the rain.
Cherie is doing exactly that.
She is choosing courage over fear. Faith over despair. Community over isolation.
And as January 13 approaches, one thing is clear: this fight belongs not only to Corey, but to everyone who cares about him.
We all have the ability to lift someone in their darkest hour. A prayer. A kind word. A shared story. A message of strength.
Corey’s journey toward healing is just beginning. The surgery is one step — an important one — but not the final chapter.
With love surrounding him and hope guiding him forward, he faces the unknown not as a victim of circumstance, but as a young man with dreams still waiting to be fulfilled.
And Cherie — a mother with an unbreakable heart — stands beside him, proving that even in the face of fear, love remains the strongest force of all.