The Pediatric Patient and Family Advisory Council
Meet the Members
Eric R. Rodriguez
Shortly after having an eye exam in March 1992, I was sent to Children's Hospital Boston to meet with a neurologist. After a two-hour examination, I had an emergency MRI and was diagnosed with an optic glioma (a brain tumor on my optic nerve). I had neurosurgery, followed by 30 sessions of radiation therapy at Brigham and Women's Hospital. Due to my brain tumor, I'm legally blind in my right eye and have no peripheral vision in my left eye. I was told by all of his doctors that I would never receive my driver's license, which, to a 15-year-old, is very discouraging.
After graduating from high school and college, I started my master's degree in fall 1999. Things were going smoothly, or so I thought.
In summer 2000, I was diagnosed with leuko placia (a white patch on his tongue). This is most commonly non-cancerous, but, in my case, I was not so lucky. After five surgeries on my tongue, I currently have no more signs of cancer. Like most survivors, I have biannual and annual tests and medical follow-ups.
I run and own a small multi-media studio (Cool Resolution) in Middleboro, Mass., and have donated my services in the past to Dana-Farber and look forward to giving back even more to the hospital. I have had the honor and pleasure to be a panelist representing Dana-Farber at the 2003 President's Cancer Panel and have spoken at many survivorship events. I am an advocate for the quality of life during and after cancer treatment, and, like all cancer survivors, wants to make a difference.
