Roller Coaster Saves Girl's Life

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wenty-year-old Emma Bassett from London had been suffering for years from bad headaches. She had seen doctors and was ultimately diagnosed with a deadly brain tumor. But what saved her life wasn't necessarily the surgery to remove the tumor, but a roller coaster.

Bassett had gone to an amusement park called Thorpe Park, and doctors say that at the time she boarded a ride called Nemesis, she was "hours away from death."

After going to the doctor, Bassett was shown a brain scan that detailed the size of the tumor--it was as big as an orange.

Thankfully, though, the ride, which goes upside-down, redistributed a fluid buildup in her brain (caused by the tumor) and saved her life.

The tumor had been growing in her brain since she was six years old, and at age 12, she hopped on the ride.

After going to the doctors shortly thereafter, Bassett was shown a brain scan that detailed the size of the tumor—it was as big as an orange.

"It was such a shock to discover I'd had this tumor growing inside me, probably for years, without me knowing anything about it," Bassett said.

The tumor was wrapped around her brain stem, and doctors feared that its removal would leave Bassett in a vegetative state, but they charged on, and almost seven years later, at age 20, she's doing just fine.

"After the operation, I couldn't walk, talk, or even feed myself," she said, "But I was determined I'd walk again and beat the tumor. It has taken years of hard work but now I'm finally able to do the things I've always wanted to and live the life I've always wanted to lead. At my latest scan, there was no sign of the tumor returning, so it's great news."

Bassett is now training to be a school teacher.