Twenty Questions with Tommy Mendenhall
Student , ArizonaI asked twenty questions and wanted honest , unfiltered answers. These are his answers .
1. Where are you going to school now?
Red Mountain High School and EVIT.
2. What are you going to school for and what are your goals for the future?
I’m a junior in high school and also taking welding through EVIT to get my welding certifications.
3. Rumor has it you are/were a singer and sang in the choir? What singer would you like to meet the most if that was possible?
I did sing in choir in junior high and I enjoy all genres of music. The one artist that I would like to meet would be Luke Combs.
4. Name the one thing you are most proud of that you accomplished?
Overcoming all the obstacles I have endured since being diagnosed with HH.
5. Name the one thing in your past that scared you the most ?
Having multiple seizures a day
6. When you hear the words Rare Disease Day as a young adult, what is the first thought that comes to mind?
A disease that very few people have.
7. The color purple has a lot of meaning to you. What is that meaning?
The color purple represents Epilepsy Awareness. To me, it symbolizes what I have already overcome and gives me the strength to continue to fight.
8. What is HH?
Hypothalamic Hamartoma. It is a rare type of epilepsy. I have a tumor that is benign but cannot be removed due to its location.
9. How old were you when you found out that you had HH?
7 years old.
10. Is HH temporary or permanent?
It is permanent.
11. Who is Timmy and how did you find out about him?
Timmy is my alter ego that would come out when I had gelastic seizure. My parents just thought I was laughing a lot when I was a young kid and they would jokingly say, “Here’s Timmy!” Unbeknownst to them I was having seizures.
12. There had to be some challenges during the early years of finding out how to deal with this. Can you give us one example?
The changes that happened in my life around me. I was unable to play a lot of sports, my cognitive learning had declined, and my memory was affected.
13. Did you ever have any type of surgery for HH?
Yes I did. I had 2 brain surgeries through laser ablation. They went in and burned as much of the “connectors” from the tumor to my hypothalamus. They were unable to remove all of the connection due to the location and fear I would lose my vision or memory.
14. Did you find a lot of support from the doctors/medical staff that helped with the initial diagnosis?
Yes. Dr Timothy at Carson’s Childrens Hospital gave us the diagnosis, but he was unfamiliar on how to treat since it was such a rare disease. Luckily Phoenix Children’s and Barrows Hospital were one the 3 hospitals in the world that were treating patients with HH.
15. How did home/online schooling during Covid 19 affect your education?
It was a very difficult time. Some classes were more difficult than others. I learn more face to face than online.
16. If you had the chance to speak to someone with the same condition, what advice would you offer them? “Keep on keepin’ on!”
17. Who has been your biggest fan/supporter?
My mom! She has been by my side every day, every appointment, through all the highs and lows.
18. DETERMINATION AND PERSEVERANCE are two words that were used to describe you. Can you give us a small example?
When I don’t understand or do well at something or a test, I don’t give up. I ask for help and retake as many times as needed until I am happy with myself.
19. If you had the chance to be one superhero, who would it be?
The Flash because he is fast and even when he thinks he is slow he is fast.
20. What is the one thing you would like for adults who read this article to get out of it?
When they feel like they have it tough, maybe they can take a look at others like me, and say, yes life is tough but it could be worse. We all have to play the cards we are given and it’s up to us to win the game!
Next : October 1st , Jonni J. Campbell