Bridgewater Brain Tumor Survivor Receives Scholarship

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — Bridgewater local and brain tumor survivor, Emily Ousouljoglou, is turning her story of survival into an inspiration for her future. As a result, Making Headway Foundation awarded 14 students, including Ousouljoglou, a $5,000 graduate scholarship to help pursue her career.

Ousouljoglou was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor, called Medullablastoma, at the age of 3 ½ years old.

“From what I remember and my mom told me, was that I had been throwing up and getting sick. I was taken to a local pediatrician and they looked at me and said I was fine,” Ousouljoglou said. “Then when it happened again, my mom took me to a different doctor and they felt a bump in the back of head.”

Ousouljoglou underwent a MRI where the tumor showed up on the scan. After that visit, she had surgery to remove it and then chemo and radiation.

“It made me who I am today,” Ousouljoglou said.

Her experience inspired Ousouljoglou to choose a career path where she could help others in similar situations that she had done through.

“Ideally I want to work in a hospital setting, in the pediatric unit with cancer patients or some organization that works with pediatric kids and family,” Ousouljoglou said. “My family and I received so much support from social workers and the Make-A-Wish Foundation and I want to give back to the community and families like they did for me.”

Ousouljoglou is a 2013 graduate of Bridgewater-Raritan High School and a 2017 graduate of Misericordia University with a degree in Social Work and a minor in Psychology. She is currently pursuing her Master’s degree in Social Work at Marywood University in Scranton, Pennsylvania.

“I have found Emily to be a dedicated, compassionate, and committed person in all aspects of her schoolwork and life. She works hard to accomplish things and strives to continue to better herself on many levels,” stated Lea Dougherty, MSW, Marywood University.

(Image via Making Headway Foundation: Emily Ousouljoglou)

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