Brock sophomore overcomes brain surgery to shine on the volleyball court

Teenagers are supposed to give headaches to their parents, not get them.

However, Brock volleyball player Adie Davis found herself on the receiving end of many more headaches than she was delivering when she was in the seventh grade.

Turns out, it was much more than aggravation.

“We went to the doctor to ask about the headaches, and we were told that for several years I had a real slowing brain tumor,” she said. “It was so much to take in, the shock of seeing so many doctors. It was really scary. I really relied on my parents, family, friends and community.”

The tumor was a juvenile pilocytic astrocytoma, which is generally benign and carries a large chance of survival. However, there are sometimes extenuating circumstances, such as its location — which was applicable in her case.

The tumor, the size of a baseball, was obstructing the flow of fluid from her spinal cord. The only answer was surgery, otherwise the headaches would turn into seizures that would eventually lead to death, her mom, Lauren Davis, said.

“There are cases where it’s not operable, so we were blessed with that,” Lauren said.

“It was a very surreal moment,” she continued, adding with a smile that Adie responded: “But I don’t want to have a brain tumor.”

Adie had the surgery in November 2022. While there were questions about her ability to play again, she was determined and returned to the court in the eighth grade.

“I didn’t want to think about not playing again,” she said. “There were times of doubt, but I relied on the Lord for my strength.”

Now, Adie, a sophomore 5-foot-11 middle blocker, leads the Lady Eagles with 69 blocks in her first season on the varsity. Brock (32-8) rolled through District 6-4A undefeated and opened the 4A Division II playoffs with a 25-17, 25-10, 25-7 sweep of Snyder (14-21) on Thursday. The Lady Eagles will next play Krum in the area round at a time and site to be determined.

“Her seventh-grade year was my first here. I remember next year asking her, ‘Are you sure you can play?’” Brock coach Nick Gay said. “I’ve been coaching for 16 years, and I’ve come across a lot of stuff. But if you had told me a player would have brain surgery in the seventh grade, and now to have her doing incredible.

“She’s the anchor of our defense.”

Adie and her mom admitted that the first match back made them a little nervous.

“We were just hoping it would be a fun, successful experience — and it was,” Lauren said. “And, yeah, we were relieved.”

Though she has almost three years of high school left, Adie is already thinking about college. She said she is interested in playing at the next level, and she has already made her decision on what she plans to study.

As a result of her experience, Adie now wants to enter the medical field herself. She was inspired by the doctors who tended to her and other children while she was hospitalized at Cook Children’s Medical Center.

“Seeing what they do in everyday life, I want to do that for kids,” she said.

Adie quoted one of her favorite Bible verses, John 13:7, which states: “Jesus replied, ‘You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.’”

“This whole experience has taught me not to take anything in life for granted,” she said. “I am definitely proof He will get you through it.”

Adie acknowledges that she is also an inspiration to others, starting with her younger sisters. Emie, a seventh-grader, also plays volleyball, and fourth-grader Camie plays softball.

Her mom and coach, likewise, see how she lifts others up.

“She’s our overcomer. We are so proud of her,” Lauren said.

“The greatest teacher in life is experience,” Gay said. “She’s a really great kid from a really great family, and now she has even more for people to look at her and be inspired.

“She preaches joy.”

This story was originally published October 29, 2025 at 1:08 PM.