She Was Expecting a Baby—Then Doctors Found a Brain Tumor. What Happened Next?

In spring 2008, Maria Rozentul, in her early 30s and in the final months of pregnancy, experienced multiple seizures. Doctors delivered her baby prematurely to avoid complications from seizure medication. Her daughter Ariela spent three weeks in the NICU. Further scans revealed Maria had a brain tumor. Doctors recommended immediate surgery, but Maria hesitated to make this decision immediately.

"Our OB-GYN was really good and told us to find someone who specializes in brain tumors," Maria recalls.

“Ariela was so little and premature, and I wanted to spend six months making sure my child was well,” Maria explains.

Maria discovered she had a diffuse astrocytoma, a slow-growing cancer that spreads throughout the brain, making complete surgical removal impossible. In December 2008, Dr. Philip Gutin and his team performed surgery to remove as much tumor as possible. After surgery, Maria focused entirely on recovery.

“I remember the nurse telling me that the more you walk, the faster you heal,” Maria recalls. “As soon as she said that, I was up and out of the room.”

It’s a small but telling detail, showing just how determined Maria was to get better quickly.

The team sequenced Maria's tumor, finding an IDH1 gene mutation—information that would later impact her treatment options. About a year post-surgery, her tumor regrew, requiring chemotherapy. Maria balanced treatment with motherhood and tolerated the medication well.

When her neuro-oncologist left, Dr. Ingo Mellinghoff, Chief of Brain Tumor Service, took over her care. Maria quickly felt comfortable with him. Unfortunately, 18 months after completing chemotherapy, the tumor regrew. Dr. Mellinghoff suggested a clinical trial for vorasidenib, a drug targeting tumors with IDH1 mutations by blocking substances that fuel tumor growth.

For Maria, it was a no-brainer.

“It was an easy decision for me,” she says. “My tumor is rare, so there aren’t many treatment options, and the ones available are often really aggressive. This option felt like a better fit.”

Three years later, Maria has been taking the medication daily—just two pills. The results have been promising: the tumor has stopped growing completely, and Dr. Mellinghoff is hopeful for the future.

Lessons from Maria’s Story

Maria Rozentul’s journey shows what it means to face uncertainty with courage. It’s not just about her diagnosis or treatments, but how she moved through it with intention, faith, and a commitment to her family and future. Here are a few lessons her experience can teach us:

1. It’s Okay to Pause and Ask Questions

When Maria was told she needed brain surgery, she didn’t say yes right away. She asked questions. She looked for answers. And she kept searching until she found a doctor she truly trusted. In a moment where fear could’ve taken over, she stayed grounded and thoughtful.

2. Recovery Is an Active Process

Maria actively pursued healing. After surgery, when a nurse mentioned that walking could speed up her recovery, Maria got up and started moving.

3. Transitions Are Hard—But Growth Happens There Too

Switching doctors mid-treatment isn’t easy, especially when you’re dealing with something as serious as a brain tumor. But when Maria’s original doctor left, she chose to stay open and give her new doctor a chance. That decision paid off.

4. Don’t Be Afraid to Try Something New

When her tumor regrew, Maria joined a clinical trial despite it not being the obvious choice. Her successful experience encourages others facing tough medical decisions to explore all options, including emerging treatments aligned with their unique needs.

5. Hope Isn’t Naive—It’s Powerful

Maria’s tumor came back more than once, she stayed focused on being there for her daughter, her husband, and her life. She didn’t give up hope, even when things felt uncertain.

6. You Don’t Have to Do It Alone

Maria relied on her husband Lev's support from day one and found trustworthy care teams. Her story shows that allowing others to help—family, friends, or doctors—can make all the difference.