# The teenager whose arm went numb

> Lauren was 18 when paralysis struck. The diagnosis changed everything.
- Title: The teenager whose arm went numb · Newsweek | Shortify
- Summary: Lauren was 18 when paralysis struck. The diagnosis changed everything. Listen to your body. Strange symptoms deserve medical attention, and advocating for…
- Keywords: lauren papadopoulos green, brain tumor, schwannoma, paralysis, diagnosis, medical journey, rare disease, patient advocacy, tiktok awareness, brain tumour research, teenager, whose
- Source: Newsweek — https://newsweek.com/i-was-18-when-my-right-arm-became-paralyzedthen-came-the-diagnosis-12419254
- Published: 2026-09-16T11:15:37+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: lauren papadopoulos green, brain tumor, schwannoma, paralysis, diagnosis, medical journey, rare disease, patient advocacy, tiktok awareness, brain tumour research
## Spasms at 17
Lauren's left arm started randomly spasming in 2012. She threw food across the dinner table and couldn't explain why her body was jerking out of control.

> I accidentally threw my food all over my little brother because my arm jolted so dramatically.
## Symptoms spread
The spasms worsened and spread to her other arm and legs. She also experienced fainting spells and lost sensation in her hands, sometimes scalding herself in the bath.
## Paralysis on her birthday
On her eighteenth birthday in February 2013, Lauren's entire right arm became paralyzed. Three days later with no improvement, her father took her to a doctor.
## The MRI scan
A private clinic ordered an MRI scan. Lauren lay in the machine for three hours, moving involuntarily the entire time, prolonging the scan even further.
## Brain tumor diagnosis
At 18, Lauren was diagnosed with a low-grade schwannoma, a rare, slow-growing benign tumor. Symptoms can include numbness, facial paralysis, muscle weakness, or tinnitus.
## Surgery against the odds
Doctors told Lauren the tumor could kill her, or the surgery could. She underwent the operation anyway and made a full recovery in 2013.

> If the tumor didn't kill me, the operation would.
## Ten years of monitoring
After surgery, Lauren had regular MRI scans to monitor her health. For a decade, she showed no symptoms and hoped she was finally free of the tumor.
## The tumor returns
In January 2023, after an MRI in September 2022, doctors told Lauren her tumor had grown back. She had exhibited no symptoms in ten years and was in complete shock.

> The results show that your tumor has grown back.
## Advocating for herself
Doctors wanted to wait two years before scanning again. Lauren refused and pushed for additional scans, which revealed her tumor was actively growing.
## From patient to advocate
Now 31, Lauren uses TikTok and Instagram to raise awareness about brain tumors and support others. She became the person her 18-year-old self needed.
## Listen to your body
Lauren's message is clear: if something doesn't feel right, seek medical advice. Strange symptoms deserve investigation, not dismissal.

> I'm now a strong advocate for listening to your body, and if something doesn't feel right, seek advice.
## Key takeaway

Listen to your body. Strange symptoms deserve medical attention, and advocating for yourself can be lifesaving.