It all started with a severe headache in February 2023.Crystal Carr went to a hospital in Prince George's County, where an MRI revealed something unexpected."I was thinking I was having a sinus infection, like, a really severe one because it just kept going," Carr told 11 News.The exam revealed a massive tumor in Carr's brain, and she was rushed to the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore, under the care of oncologist Dr. Ashraf Badros, who has extensive clinical experience in bone marrow transplantation."She had surgery, which was a very complicated surgery and was a very prolonged surgery that resulted in what we call cardiac arrest with resuscitation a couple of times," Badros told 11 News.'If I flatline again, I may not make it'"I flatlined four times," Carr told 11 News. "They weren't sure, you know, what was going to happen to me. They had to close my head up really fast. So, on my frontal lobe, I don't have a skull or anything, and they won't go back in to put anything there because they said if I flatline again, I may not make it."Carr learned her heart stopped four times during surgery."Instantly, I just started crying," she said. "The first thing I said was, 'Thank God,' because I knew it could have been different.""After surgery, she was literally unconscious for at least three or four days," Badros explained. "Eventually, she actually recovered and was treated with antibiotics, some prolonged treatment. Actually, I think it was about two to three weeks in the ICU."Carr's treatment was followed by radiation, chemotherapy and a stem cell transplant, which is because the type of cancer she has is multiple myeloma -- an incurable blood cancer that's exceedingly rare to present in the brain.Surviving rare, incurable blood cancer: 'I'm their miracle'Carr and her family are especially joyful this holiday: She's now cancer-free and on a maintenance program of medication infusions every other week."If you've ever wondered what a miracle looks like, you're looking at one right now. So, yep, I'm their miracle," Carr said."This has been about 16 months, and I believe she is in complete remission at this point, after 16 months of treatment," Badros told 11 News. "She ended up, literally, in much better shape than all of us expected -- me, surgeons, radiation, oncology -- because of her resiliency, really. And we are very happy to see that. I will take a miracle every day if I can."Carr credits the overwhelmingly positive support from family and friends."They all encouraged me: 'Everything is going to be fine. Everything is going to be fine.' And it was," Carr said.And she believes there's a reason she has survived."I always say to Dr. Badros, I tell them all the time, 'You say there's no cure, but maybe I'm the cure, and that's why I'm still here,'" Carr said.
It all started with a severe headache in February 2023.
Crystal Carr went to a hospital in Prince George's County, where an MRI revealed something unexpected.
"I was thinking I was having a sinus infection, like, a really severe one because it just kept going," Carr told 11 News.
The exam revealed a massive tumor in Carr's brain, and she was rushed to the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore, under the care of oncologist Dr. Ashraf Badros, who has extensive clinical experience in bone marrow transplantation.
"She had surgery, which was a very complicated surgery and was a very prolonged surgery that resulted in what we call cardiac arrest with resuscitation a couple of times," Badros told 11 News.
'If I flatline again, I may not make it'
"I flatlined four times," Carr told 11 News. "They weren't sure, you know, what was going to happen to me. They had to close my head up really fast. So, on my frontal lobe, I don't have a skull or anything, and they won't go back in to put anything there because they said if I flatline again, I may not make it."
Carr learned her heart stopped four times during surgery.
"Instantly, I just started crying," she said. "The first thing I said was, 'Thank God,' because I knew it could have been different."
"After surgery, she was literally unconscious for at least three or four days," Badros explained. "Eventually, she actually recovered and was treated with antibiotics, some prolonged treatment. Actually, I think it was about two to three weeks in the ICU."
Carr's treatment was followed by radiation, chemotherapy and a stem cell transplant, which is because the type of cancer she has is multiple myeloma -- an incurable blood cancer that's exceedingly rare to present in the brain.
Surviving rare, incurable blood cancer: 'I'm their miracle'
Carr and her family are especially joyful this holiday: She's now cancer-free and on a maintenance program of medication infusions every other week.
"If you've ever wondered what a miracle looks like, you're looking at one right now. So, yep, I'm their miracle," Carr said.
"This has been about 16 months, and I believe she is in complete remission at this point, after 16 months of treatment," Badros told 11 News. "She ended up, literally, in much better shape than all of us expected -- me, surgeons, radiation, oncology -- because of her resiliency, really. And we are very happy to see that. I will take a miracle every day if I can."
Carr credits the overwhelmingly positive support from family and friends.
"They all encouraged me: 'Everything is going to be fine. Everything is going to be fine.' And it was," Carr said.
And she believes there's a reason she has survived.
"I always say to Dr. Badros, I tell them all the time, 'You say there's no cure, but maybe I'm the cure, and that's why I'm still here,'" Carr said.