Adrian Van Balen

My name is Adrian Marie Van Balen III. Upon hearing my name, my 3rd grade teacher told me "Boy, you better become someone important with a name like that!". But how does one become "important"? Especially in 3rd grade!

Throughout my years I realized that in order to become "important", I needed to win. So, I set out on a journey to do just that that! Little did I know someone had other plans for me.

Life had written a story that Martin Scorsese, Quentin Tarantino and Tim Burton themselves couldn't conjure up. I have been dealt with blow after blow over 43 years of life. Been to Hell and back so many times, I could draw you directions. What took me there? For starters, four brain tumors. At 35 years old I was diagnosed with my first massive brain tumor. Over the next 7 years I endured 3 craniotomies and 57 radiation treatments.

It is extremely hard to become "important" in the face of constant adversity. But life is hard. Anyone that tells you differently is selling you something. So how did I do it? How do you succeed being delt that hand in life? You win with what you've got!

I am here to tell you that what one man can do, so can another. Difficult takes a day. Impossible takes a week. Now, let's go win together!