Brain tumor patient calmed by class

Student of Virginia Lee Cepeda

About mid-August, 1999 I awoke to a grandmal seizure. A preliminary MRI located a very small speck at the top of my skull. Two months later I had a follow-up MRI which showed the tumor had grown and needed to be ressected. After surgery to remove the tumor, I was admitted to radiation for seven weeks.

After the radiation I was subjected to another surgery. Radioactive implants (70 surgical steel seeds) in my skull. There was another out-patient surgery and chemotherapy at home. I am currently on my second round of chemo with another MRI in August.

What does all this have to do with T’ai Chi Chih? Well, when I was going to an acupuncturist in Berkeley, I felt a strange “energy” concentration on the tumor site. I questioned the doctor about it and he said that in the hands of a skilled doctor that was the idea. He also recommended that I find an accredited T’ai Chi teacher in my area and felt that this might help me. Virginia Lee Cepeda has been that teacher.

My journey with T’ai Chi Chih has been fantastic! Virginia Lee and her wonderful class has supported me in every way …… body, mind and spirit. The gentle movements, the relaxed feelings and the peace I have received from these classes have made my life so much easier.

I give my thanks to the originator of T’ai Chi Chih, Justin Stone, my teacher, Virginia Lee, and my wonderful class.