Sarah Rencken

• 9 Years Oklahoma Highway Patrol
• Former Tactical Team Member
• Bachelor’s in Health Exercise Science

I had been on the Patrol about 5 years, when I was responding to a collision in Tulsa County. I was involved in a collision and taken to OSU Medical Center to be checked out. After the CT scan the doctor advised me, I had a brain tumor. I remember being in shock. I thought he had made a mistake and grabbed the wrong chart. I left the ER with a follow up appointment with a neurosurgeon

I didn’t really have any emotion about my diagnosis. I did not realize how much the tumor was affecting my outlook and decisions in life. I remember telling myself every day, “it doesn’t matter if you are happy, just be successful”. The day of surgery I remember thinking, it would just be best if I did not wake up. I was tired of fighting one thing after another in my life. The surgery was successful and after a time of recovering I began to realize the effects of the tumor

After recovery my surgeon advised me that the integrity of my skull would never be the same.  I had always wanted to be a defensive tactics instructor, and that was no longer an option. I was left to reevaluate what I wanted out of life and my career. I felt like I had missed out on a huge part of my life due to the tumor affecting my mood and thinking. I began to strive for a more balanced life. I thank you God for my friends and family that have always been there to support. I am excited for the opportunity with the wellness program to help others through their struggles on the job and throughout life.