JosueRamos Brain Surgery

Grad gets diploma in hospital room

First Published By Edward Sifuentes of UT San Diego on June 17, 2013

Eighteen-year-old Josue Ramos had been looking forward to his high school
graduation, but those plans were abruptly interrupted when doctors discovered a
tumor in his brain.

Instead of walking with his classmates last week at Carlsbad High School’s
commencement ceremony, Ramos was at Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla having
multiple surgeries to remove the tumor.

On Monday morning, school officials held a special graduation ceremony for Ramos
in his hospital room. It wasn’t the ceremony he had envisioned, but Ramos said
he was happy to receive his diploma and be recognized by school administrators,
surrounded by friends and family.

“It was definitely different but it was pretty cool that they came out of their
way to be here,” Ramos said, hugging his diploma.

For months, Ramos had been suffering from minor headaches and dizzy spells and
the headaches got progressively worse, said his mother Azucena Barnes. She
decided to take him to the emergency room.

“He was not OK; he was having to hold on to things to walk to the bathroom,”
Barnes said. “He was vomiting.”

An MRI scan revealed that Ramos had a tumor the size of a cherry at the back of
his head. The tumor was benign, but growing fast. If left unattended, it could
have been fatal, doctors said.

Scripps neurosurgeon Sanjay Ghosh performed three procedures over the past week
to remove the tumor.

On Monday, Ramos’ hospital room was crowded with family — including his brother
Edwin, on leave from the Army — when Carlsbad Unified School District
Superintendent Suzette Lovely and Carlsbad High School Principal Matt Steitz
presented him with his high school diploma.

Ramos said his illness has made him think about pursuing a career in medicine.
He had hoped to follow his brother’s footsteps and join the military but those
plans are on hold for now.

Edwin Ramos, who graduated from Carlsbad High three years ago, said he hadn’t
been home in two years. He had just arrived for his brother’s graduation when he
heard that Josue was in the emergency room. He said Monday he was happy to see
his brother recovering and to see him graduate.

“I’m very proud of him,” Edwin Ramos said.

Their mother said she was happy to see both her sons together.

“I have no words to describe the feelings that I have,” Barnes said, unable to
hold back tears. “I am very happy.”

Ramos left the hospital Monday afternoon.