I was diagnosed with a near-fatal brain condition. I had surgery, recovered, and graduated college 5 years later.

• Blake Cox, 22, had brain swelling during his senior year of high school.
• He needed 10 surgeries and months of rehab, relearning how to walk and talk.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Blake Cox, 22. It has been edited for length and clarity.

The holiday season is full of twinkling lights, but five years ago, I was experiencing flashes I couldn't explain. I would see a strange white light that I knew wasn't there. I also had severe headaches.

A few days before Christmas during my senior year of high school, I had an MRI to figure out what was going on. I came home after the procedure, but the doctors called my mom and told us to go to the hospital. My brain was swelling, they said, and I needed immediate medical attention.

On Christmas Eve, I was diagnosed with an arteriovenous fistula, an abnormal connection between arteries and veins. Mine was in my brain, which explained my strange symptoms. Doctors told me I would need surgery but sent me home so I could celebrate Christmas. My parents and I had spent the past few days in the hospital and had no groceries, so my neighbors brought over food for us to celebrate.

I had many complications and needed 10 surgeries

I wasn't very concerned about the prospect of brain surgery. I live near Houston, which has some of the best doctors in the world. I even thought I'd be back to school for senior spring after a few weeks.

That wasn't the case. After 10 hours in surgery, doctors told my parents there had been a lot of complications and I'd lost too much blood. They put me in a medically induced coma for three days.

I don't remember much about the next month. I was exhausted and got dizzy very easily. I had a tracheotomy and was in a wheelchair. I couldn't walk, talk, or eat. Over the next few months, I rotated between the hospital and rehab.

Being in rehab at TIRR Memorial Hermann was difficult. They deliver tough love, getting you up and moving in hopes you'll regain your skills. Those weeks were a blur, but I remember a few things: I wore a harness to support my weight as I relearned how to walk. It was restrictive and uncomfortable.

Before I could start drinking fluids, I had to pass a swallow test. That involved a camera being stuck up my nose so medical professionals could watch as I swallowed different foods. The first time, the test was so painful that I failed, but the next day, I passed and could drink water.

There were some fun times, though. I loved the therapy dogs that visited me. I got to go on a field trip to the Houston Zoo. Seeing the apes, monkeys, and elephants reminded me of my passion for animals.

I took a semester off, then enrolled in college

In April 2019, after more than four months in the hospital and rehab, I was able to go home. I walked in my high-school graduation with my class but didn't receive my diploma until I completed summer classes with a tutor. That was no surprise since I missed all my spring classes.

I had planned to start college at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor that fall, but I was still recovering. I took that semester off to focus on my physical and mental health, building up my strength. Finally, in January 2020, I enrolled and moved onto campus.

I loved the independence of living away from home. I could talk to my peers and just feel normal in a way I hadn't since I was admitted to the hospital. Unfortunately, after a few short weeks of living on campus, I had to return home when the pandemic shut down in-person learning.

I graduated earlier this month and am applying for jobs

Despite the pandemic, I stayed on track with classes. Initially, I was studying biology in hopes of working with animals. But learning about cells and genetics didn't hold my attention, so I changed my major to general studies in science and humanities.

Even after 10 brain surgeries, I could keep up with my classes. Earlier this month, five years after my symptoms started, I graduated with a bachelor's degree. I pumped my fists as I walked across the stage, thinking about everything I'd overcome.

Now, I'm back home with my parents and applying for jobs. I'd like to work in the medical field, maybe doing data analysis or working in a lab. I'm eager to see what comes next. After the past five years, I know I'm up for any challenges life throws at me.