While attending the 2015 Christmas Parade in Brooksville, Tangela Copeland experienced a sensation that she would not forget.
She was born in Miami, graduated with a Bachelor’s of Business Administration Degree from University of Miami, where she met her husband, Horace Copeland. Together they raised four children, moved across the country and finally settled down here in Hernando County.
Tangela is a private person. She is a bright, beautiful and a caring woman that dedicates her love to her family and her job.
Caring for others and guiding people to become better is part of her character. This influenced her choice of career in the Mental Health. She teaches her clients to release any negative past experiences and begin moving forward in their lives.
During the Christmas Parade, the experience Tangela had, led to an unexpected turn of events. “I remember the exact day which was December 12th, of 2015 I just started having this strange smell sensation, it smelled like acetone. In a couple of minutes the smell sensation was gone and everything was back to normal,” Copeland said. “I had a history of allergies, so it didn’t seem like that big a deal.”
She brushed that experience off until the same sensation reappeared a couple of months later. “It was the same smell sensation, then I did start to get a little dizzy but was always able to regroup very quickly.”
What she was experiencing was olfactory hallucinations (phantosmia), smelling an odor that is not actually there. According to the Mayo Clinic, “Phantosmia may occur after a head injury or upper respiratory infection. It can also be caused by temporal lobe seizures, inflamed sinuses, brain tumors and Parkinson’s disease.”
By March of 2016 the experiences and sensations were happening more frequently, which prompted her to seek medical attention.
The doctor ordered an MRI to rule out any sinus blockages, but in turn that MRI showed a tumor on the right side of her brain. This particular tumor is called Meningioma. (A meningioma is a tumor that arises from the meninges — the membranes that surround your brain and spinal cord.) Meningiomas represent about one-third of all primary brain tumors and occur most frequently in middle-aged women.
Due to the location of the tumor in her brain, which was causing swelling and putting pressure on her carotid artery, surgery was not delayed and she would have to undergo surgery immediately.
“We really did not have time to let it all soak in. I basically had one day to get affairs in order at work and then… check into the hospital,” said Tangela Copeland. “We are in our routine, in our family groove and all of a sudden…complete devastation,” she explained.
It’s hard to understand just how your brain works. Your brain has billions of nerve cells that coordinate thought, emotion, behavior, movement and sensation. The element of uncertainty of brain surgery certainly stood out for the Copeland family.
“Even for those that make a recovery…you never know the residual effects, whether or not you will have seizures or be in your right mind,” Copeland expressed. “You have to allow yourself to go through that, whatever emotions are there, just cry and let it out; some of it might be a little anger,” she said.
Fortunately, the surgery successfully removed the tumor and now the focus was on rebuilding her strength, both mind and body. She spent six days in the hospital recovering. During her recovery, she has had the support of her family and close friends. “My husband was phenomenal, he was there posted by my side the entire time,” Tangela said. Copeland’s outlook on the entire experience is enlightening.
“I think I have a newfound appreciation of life in itself… This is nothing shy of a miracle. I recovered well… I feel great and still able to pursue the things in life that I am passionate about,” Copeland said. Tangela Copeland wishes to share this life experience to help others.
“Most important thing is to really pay attention to your body and be diligent in taking care of it; anything that seems out of the ordinary, no matter how small… What I thought was a minor thing in fact turned out to be something that was life threatening in my case,” Copeland said.
She emphasized the importance of faith in facing difficult health situations, coupled with awareness. “Faith, first and foremost as well as listening to your body; no matter who you are no one is invincible… (it is) so important for people to stay on top of their physical and mental health. Make it a priority and pay attention to your body,” Copeland expressed.
“At any given moment you just never know when that person may not be in your life and even if they are, to what capacity. Recognize the importance of your family and your friends, coworkers and the people around you. Because at the end of the day you really don’t know what people have truly walked through in their life,” Tangela Copeland remarked.
Tangela would like to express her gratitude for all those that have helped her through this life changing journey. “I am so grateful and thankful for the care they provided.”