Ema Amador Overcomes Brain Tumor to Play Tennis

As part of National Hispanic Heritage Month taking place from September 15 to October 15 in the United States, USTA Missouri is featuring Ema Amador, an adult league competitor.

When Ema Amador woke up a day in July 2021, everything six feet away and further that she looked at appeared double. She went into her ophthalmologist, who informed Amador her eyes seemed fine and she should give it some time. With the vision issue not subsiding, though, Amador’s ophthalmologist ordered an MRI in October. The result showed Amador had a benign brain tumor.

“It was devastating, that issue,” Amador said. “That was very hard for me.”

Amador began radiation treatment the first week of December. Because her outlook was good overall, Amador was treated daily for a one-week stretch. Amador said patients typically are given radiation treatment once per month, but she credited the health benefits that resulted from years of playing tennis for putting her ahead of the curve.

Amador soon regained significant percentages of her vision. By the end of February, she recovered 100 percent of her sight. Three months later, she was back on a tennis court playing the sport she loves.

“I can tell you tennis was very good exercise and kept me healthy,” Amador said. “Due to my good health that tennis has given me, my radiation was excellent and I recovered fast. You learn a lot of things. In that month, I was devastated. I told myself I have to do something to keep me busy, because I can only stay at home. I couldn’t drive. I couldn’t do anything.”

So Amador tried her hand at cake design, as she could see items well from six feet or closer. She learned how to decorate cakes, cookies, marshmallows and other delectable treats. Amador whipped together an online presence and business card for her home bakery, e_tdelicious, and has been creating sweet treats since then.

Amador credited her son, Christian Moreno, and daughter, Denise Moreno, for helping her throughout her medical issues. She said the two have worked hard since their family arrived in the U.S. from their hometown of Durango in northwest Mexico in 2006.

“My kids are amazing,” Amador said. “My son is an electrical engineer. My daughter is in international business. They are both managers. I am thankful for them and the American people who helped us. My daughter was with me all the time and taking care of me. I’m very thankful. Probably I guess I don’t deserve the kids I have.”