COSAM News Articles 2020 September Grandfather’s brain surgery inspired COSAM freshman to pursue medicine

Grandfather’s brain surgery inspired COSAM freshman to pursue medicine

Published: 09/04/2020

Four years ago, Abby Long lost her grandfather to emergency brain surgery. He had become dizzy and out of breathe easily for months before the surgery, but wasn’t comfortable seeking help from a doctor. One night he slipped and fell, cracking his head and requiring emergency brain surgery. Soon after surgery he became unresponsive and passed away a week later.

Long said the situation led her to ask many questions. She learned that he had a rare form of bone marrow cancer of which him nor his family was aware.

“All of these aspects, from before the fall, to right after the surgery, to eventually him passing away, made me interested in the way your brain and body work together,” Long explained. “First of all, I can't help but wonder if we had convinced him to go to the doctor sooner, if he would have survived.”

Long recently began her freshman year at Auburn University to study biomedical sciences through the College of Sciences and Mathematics (COSAM) on the pre-physician assistant track to pursue a career as a physician’s assistant and specialize in neurology.

“I am interested in neurology because it makes me curious to wonder what went so well after my grandfather’s surgery that could go so wrong a couple days later,” Long shared. “I am hoping to help patients just like my grandfather to feel comfortable and even learn what changed in his brain from the first day post-surgery to his last. I also think it is important for all people to feel comfortable going to the doctor and I hope one day I can make my patients feel comfortable and safe, because that aspect of patient care could even save a life.”

Long is originally from Birmingham, Ala, and performed community service, was a part of the Birmingham United Soccer Association, a special education aide, worked with Habitat for Humanity and more in high school. She is attending Auburn University on the Spirit of Auburn University Scholarship and decided to attend Auburn because of its home-like and community feel.

Long is looking forward to understanding more about the medical field and all of the options available during her four years in COSAM.

“COSAM has already challenged me in these first couple weeks of school,” she said. “This is an aspect I like because I know that this program and classes will get me to my end goal and drive me to be the best I can be.”