Brain tumor battle inspires Naples teen to start "Minds Over Tumors"

A sudden fall changed the course of Andrea Nieves' life, transforming her college semester in New York into a battle against a rare brain tumor.

"I had missed a step, and when I fell, I hit my head, I passed out," said Andrea Nieves. "I woke up to the doctors telling me that I had a brain tumor and that we were going to do some more testing to see what the status of that was."

Diagnosed with central neurocytoma, Andrea was just 20 years old when she underwent surgery at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, followed by 25 rounds of radiation. Now, three years later, Andrea is a 23-year-old biochemistry major at Florida Gulf Coast University, preparing for medical school with the determination to become a doctor.

"If I hadn't fallen, who knows what symptoms I would have had and what damage I would have had if I hadn't caught the tumor when I did," Andrea said. "I think that that alone is the most miracle moment you could possibly ask for."

Her resilience inspired her younger brother, Darren Nieves, now 17 and a senior in high school.

"Literally every single odd was against her, not in her favor, and she beat every single odd every single time," said Darren Nieves. "And I think that's huge, and not just as my sister, but as anybody that perseverance, that grit."

In honor of his sister, Darren founded "Minds Over Tumors," a nonprofit organization that has raised more than $35,000 and donated more than 500 teddy bears to children in Southwest Florida, including at Golisano Children's Hospital.

"We have the financial aspect, which is like scholarship and things like that, and bills that we try to alleviate from the families," Darren said. "But then we also have our mental and physical aspects, where we're hoping to start a program that brings a care package when these children are admitted into the hospital."

For Andrea, her miracle was survival.

"It was a miracle," Darren said.

For Darren, it's about giving hope to others.

"Almost losing my life definitely left a mark on all of us," Andrea said.

Together, they are turning a miracle into a movement, embodying the spirit of a true "Miracle Moment."

"Minds Over Tumors" is planning a big fundraising gala at Elite Jets in Naples on November 8.  You can find more information here.

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