A Father’s Fight Inspires His Daughter’s Future
For Tanaz Nekouee, every accomplishment is rooted in one place: her family.
She’s a recent high school graduate, a violinist who has performed at Carnegie Hall, a competitive volleyball player and a future University of Florida student on the path to medical school. But perhaps her most meaningful role has been caring for her father.
Tanaz Nekouee and her father, Farhad, at the Steinbrenner High School graduation.“My dad means everything to me,” Tanaz said. “I love him so much.”
When Tanaz was young, her father, Farhad Nekouee, started getting weak. He was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS). Despite treatment, he continued to get weaker.
After years of seeking answers, the family had nearly given up hope until they found Moffitt Cancer Center. That’s where Nam Tran, MD, PhD, a neuro-oncology surgeon at Moffitt, took a closer look at Farhad’s case.
Using state-of-the-art imaging technology called diffusion tensor imaging, he detected a spinal cord lesion that didn’t match the typical signs of MS. Instead, it looked like an ependymoma, a benign spinal cord tumor that could be removed with specialized surgery.
“Any time you operate on the spinal cord, it is considered high risk,” Tran said. “It’s a procedure only performed by neurosurgeons with specialized training and skills.”
The tumor was lodged in the center of the spinal cord in the neck region that controls breathing and the nerves in the heart. Its location made the operation critical.
“Dr. Tran is the No. 1 doctor,” Farhad said. “I have a new life because of him and because of my daughter.”
With the help of her mom and brother, Tanaz quickly learned how to support and help her father who is wheelchair bound, all while juggling advanced coursework and volleyball practice for both her club and school teams.
Tanaz Nekouee says her father's strength and outlook continue to inspire her every day.
“There were some nights where I wouldn’t get enough sleep. But it’'s OK because you have to work hard for what you want,” Tanaz said. “My family always motivated me whenever I wanted to give up.”
Farhad’s pride for his children runs deep. He calls them “his heart.”
“I am so happy for their future,” Farhad said. “Both of them are doing so well. My son wants to become a dentist, and my daughter wants to help solve the problems of other people like me.”
Tanaz will begin her studies at the University of Florida this fall, majoring in biology on the pre-med track. Her goal is to one day help others, just as Tran helped her father.
She returned to Moffitt last summer as a volunteer. She shadowed staff, observed robotic surgery and imagined what it might feel like to be the one saving lives.
“Seeing how Dr. Tran changes lives is truly eye-opening,” Tanaz said. “That’s something I want to do as well.”
For Tran, hearing that his work inspired Tanaz to pursue medicine is a full-circle moment.
“Inspiring bright young minds like Tanaz to go into medicine is one of the highest achievements and greatest impact I can make as a physician,” Tran said. “I am extremely proud of her and will support her any way I can so that she can achieve her dreams.”
Tanaz had her pick of colleges, receiving acceptance letters from nine universities, including Emory University and New York University. But she opted to stay close to home and her family.
Tanaz Nekouee was accepted to nine unversities, but chose to stay closer to her family and attend the University of Florida.
“I thought about going far,” she said. “But my heart is with my family. I want to be near them.”
Beyond medicine, Tanaz says her father has shaped how she sees the world and a love for nature photography. He taught her to be generous with the good things in life and instilled in her lessons that will stay with her long after graduation.
“He’s taught me that to be successful, you have to be ready to fight through your problems because there will always be more,” she said. “He tells me problems are like doors — every door has a key. You just have to find it.”
