The CERN Foundation is a collaborative network with a commitment to connecting patients and caregivers – in addition to medical providers – who deal with ependymoma.
This section of our site is dedicated to helping anyone affected by ependymoma connect with the foundation through patient stories and, perhaps most importantly, each other. And by creating more awareness of ependymoma, our hope is to increase public recognition of this rare tumor and the need for clinical studies to improve early diagnosis, standardize treatment and improve the health status of those living with this disease.
Inspiration Stories
Pregnant Mother Navigates Care During the COVID-19 Lockdown and Celebrates her Miracle Baby
Read Jenna’s remarkable story of discovering an ependymoma diagnosis while she was pregnant and how navigating care during the COVID-19 lockdown added challenge and concern for her entire family.
The Experience
Dwight lives with his wife in South Carolina on five acres. In this Inspiration Story, he writes about his experience with ongoing symptoms that eventually lead to an ependymoma diagnosis. As a man in his early eighties, Dwight describes in detail how he n
What I wish people knew about what it is like to be a young adult with a brain tumor.
Savannah, 21, is a senior psychology major at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. She is passionate about helping others and plans to attend graduate school to fulfill her dream of becoming a clinical mental health counselor
A Story of Recovery from Spinal Cord Tumor Surgery
Dawn shares what it's like recovering from surgery while giving those who are on a similar journey the reassurance that they are not alone.
Share Your Story
Help others who are going through similar experiences by sharing your ependymoma journey.
Events
Ependymoma Awareness Day 2022
In an effort to raise awareness of ependymoma, patients, caregivers and medical professionals from around the world dedicate May 10, 2022 as the eleventh annual Ependymoma Awareness Day.
Ependymoma Awareness Day 2021
Patients, care partners and medical professionals from around the world dedicate May 10, 2021 as the tenth annual Ependymoma Awareness Day!
Ependymoma Awareness Day 2020
On May 3, 2020, CERN held the ninth annual Ependymoma Awareness Day with a virtual butterfly release.
Ependymoma Awareness Day 2019
Patients, caregivers and medical professionals from around the world dedicated May 5, 2019, as the eighth annual Ependymoma Awareness Day!
Ependymoma Awareness Day 2018
To commemorate the seventh Ependymoma Awareness Day, butterflies were released in Washington, DC by the ependymoma and brain tumor community on May 6, 2018.
Ependymoma Awareness Day 2017
The ependymoma community dedicated May 8, 2017 as the sixth annual Ependymoma Awareness Day and a butterfly release was held in Arlington, Virginia to commemorate the day.
Ependymoma Awareness Day 2016
For the fourth annual Awareness Day, a butterfly release was held on Monday, May 2, 2016 in Washington, DC during the National Brain Tumor Society's Head to the Hill event.
Ependymoma Awareness Day 2015
A butterfly release was held at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, on May 5, 2015 to commemorate the fourth annual Ependymoma Awareness Day.
Ependymoma Awareness Day 2014
In an effort to raise awareness of ependymoma, patients, caregivers and medical professionals from around the world dedicated April 10, 2014 as the third annual Awareness Day.
Ependymoma Awareness Day 2013
Hundreds of brightly colored butterflies covered the skies over St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital as they were released by patients and CERN investigators on April 18, 2013.
Ependymoma Awareness Day 2012
CERN commemorated Awareness Day with a mass butterfly release that took place at the semi-annual CERN investigator meeting on April 19, 2012.