From Battling a Brain Tumor to Serving in the Peace Corps

Risa Josephine, a ski resort dispatcher and adventure sports enthusiast, battled a brain tumor from age seven until her life-changing surgery at eighteen. She graduated from the University of Georgia, volunteered at the Jodie O’Shea Orphanage in Bali and then spent two years as a Peace Corps volunteer teaching English in Kyrgyzstan.

In our conversation she shares what it was like living with that tumor for over a decade, from daily seizures, migraines and partial vision loss to the gratitude and perspective it gave her. She also recounts the celebration of life party her friend’s parents threw before surgery, explains how she and her non-English speaking immigrant parents navigated the U.S. medical system, and reflects on making her own life-or-death decisions about where and how to operate. We dive into her decision to fund and run her own volunteer program in Bali, the cultural surprises of life in At-Bashy and her vivid memories of Kyrgyz customs that taught her more than any textbook lesson. Let’s dive in!

Donate to SNR Team today!

• SNR Team is a nonprofit providing mental and emotional support to ski-resort first responders in the Sierra Nevadas. It’s a place where resiliency teams and individuals can find resources, connect on a community platform, access educational trainings, and secure an advocate for themselves or their team.

Connect with Risa

• Instagram
• Purchase Her Jewelry (Japanese influenced, Origami earrings)!

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Follow along on other platforms:

• Instagram
• Tiktok
• Youtube

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KEYWORDS:

brain tumor, surgery, recovery, gratitude, immigrant experience, advocacy, cultural anthropology, resilience, personal growth, life lessons, Cultural Anthropology, Volunteering, Peace Corps, Orphanage, Bali, Kyrgyzstan, Community Development, Cultural Differences, Personal Growth, Gratitude