The story of: Alexanne

Hi! My name is Alexanne. I was recently accepted into the Faculty of Medicine at Université Laval. I was also born with Neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1), a condition that I refuse to let define me, although it will always be a part of who I am.

I was asked to talk about the challenges that NF1 has brought into my life. At first, I didn’t know how to answer. Not because those challenges never existed—quite the opposite. It was difficult for me to think about them because I have always tried to view those challenges in a positive light.

The many hospital appointments I attended, especially as a child, were always accompanied by parents who kept smiling despite their worries, by incredible doctors who made those visits fun and stress-free, and often even by Jelly Beans that helped me forget the tougher moments.

The three surgeries I underwent were also experiences that came with very little stress. Not only did I know I was in the hands of talented surgeons, but I also knew that those challenges were worth facing. The scars they left behind are simply marks of my journey, proof of my courage at such a young age.

My café-au-lait spots, one of the visible signs of NF1, play a similar role. When I was too young to understand my condition, I thought they were unusual, but nothing more. Then, during adolescence, I started to dislike them. They reminded me that I was different.

But that perception did not last. Yes, I was different—and that is a good thing.

I came to see my birthmarks as one of the most beautiful things about me. They gave me, and still give me today, confidence in the person I am.

And here I am today, living out a dream I have had since I was very young.

I will have the opportunity to work in the very hospitals where I always felt at home and happy, the hospitals that were part of my childhood. I will have the chance to become the kind of physician who left a lasting impression on me through her compassion, sense of humour, and ability to reassure little Alexanne and, most importantly, her parents.

I will be able to help those who need it most, after having once been in that position myself.

In the end, I am incredibly fortunate. NF1 has had an impact on my life, yes, but I have been lucky to experience relatively few symptoms. Through my mother, who has been deeply involved with the ANFQ, I have seen what other people living with NF go through.

I have seen people who faced greater challenges than I did.

But most importantly, I saw people who smiled and lived life to the fullest.

That gave me hope. Hope that when we refuse to let a condition define us, and when we choose to remain positive despite the challenges, we can accomplish anything.

If there is one thing I would like people to take away from my journey, it is that I am grateful to have remained proud of who I am and to have chosen to view life’s challenges through a positive lens. I certainly would not be where I am today if I had not done so.

Thank you to the ANFQ, to my doctors, to my friends, and to my loved ones.

Most of all, thank you to my parents.

And thank you to everyone who has supported me and who will continue to support me as I begin this new chapter of my life.

— Alexanne