WESTLAKE, Ohio -- During her time at school, she struggled more than ever.
No one could figure out why.
In October 2015, after experiencing prolonged and severe back pain with migraines, a doctors' appointment was made and chest X-rays were performed.
Within a week, 26-year-old Grace Pophal was diagnosed with Stage 4 Metastatic Melanoma.
Five tumors were found in her brain, while her back pain was caused by a tumor on her lung so massive that it was putting significant pressure on her spinal cord. Tumors were also found in seven other organs.
Subsequent treatment with Radiation caused swelling, and Grace underwent emergency brain surgery to remove the two largest tumors causing pressure on her brain. By November 2015, doctors weren’t sure what the future held for Grace.
Grace is still fighting. She was treated with an aggressive form of targeting pills and has been hospitalized several times with side effects, but her tumors have all significantly reduced in size.
A second brain surgery was performed in June 2016. The surgery was a success, and in October, 2016, Grace started her first course of immunotherapy treatment.
As of today, Grace has no active tumors in her brain, teaches yoga and receives immunotherapy treatments every other week.
This road has been filled with blood, tears, heartache, celebration, a pup named Otis, hospital socks, ice cream binges, and too many body scans to count. And there is still a long way to go.
Learn more on this story from Monica Robins tonight at 6 p.m.