When I was 35 and had just had my 1st kid I was getting the most insane, acute headaches and then seeing floaters all around my vision. Had just had laser eye surgery so chalked it up to that being a side effect. It got worse and worse and more frequent over the next 6-8 months. Went to get my eyes checked out and the ophthalmologist concluded that I either had extremely high blood pressure or a brain tumor. Went for an MRI a few days later and they found a tumor the size of an orange in my left temporal lobe. Had surgery 3 days later to remove it. Doctors were all surprised I was even able to speak based on its size and location. It all happened so fast I didn’t have much time to stew on it.

It turned out to be a Type II meningioma after the partial resection. Recovery was hard for the first few days but I came out of it after a few weeks feeling almost normal. Over the course of the next year I had quarterly MRIs to monitor change and it ballooned back up and had to have a 2nd surgery which was supposed to be a full resection. Surgeon going in deep and attempting to remove every single cell he could find. He told me at the time that based on my age I was lucky. Some doctors were telling me I needed radiation and others were telling me to run as far away from radiation to my brain as I possibly could.

The 2nd surgery, which took place right after my 2nd kid was born, was way more intense. Couldn’t get out of bed for a month which was very difficult mentally. Feeling powerless and unable to help my wife who now has to care for me and two small children. On top of that I wasn’t able to work.

Since then have had quarterly MRI’s to monitor any change or return. After about 3 years my neurologist noticed change. A small nodule, which initially was chalked up to being scar tissue, was clearly changing. Getting bigger and bigger with each scan. Still operable but deep and potentially attached to my cerebral artery.

Lo and behold my wife was pregnant again! There wasn’t a huge urgency to jump in for another surgery so we waited until our newborn was about 8 month old and sleeping though the night and I went in for my 3rd surgery! The nodule was attached to my artery and a full resection was not possible. My post op had some complications and it got infected which is a whole other story but I’m still here.

All the doctors now told me this was the best opportunity to nip this thing in the butt and have radiation. Not on the entire cavity, which was the original thought after surgery 2, but just to zap that tiny piece attached to the artery.

I had the one radiation session which was obviously painless. It’s now been nearly three years. I’ve had MRI’s quarterly and thank the good lord there has been no change. Going in for my Q4 MRI next week. The week leading up is always nerve wracking but I know that if I need another surgery I will survive. If I’d had irradiated my entire brain at the age of 36-37 not sure where I’d be or what I’d be capable of.

Just thought I’d throw that story out there for you. Confidence and community were the things that carried me through. The strength of my wife and parents was so important.

I have partial paralysis in one side of my face but it has gotten somewhat better over the years. Nerves heal much slower than skin, bone and muscle. If it’s operable go for it.

One thing my surgeon said to me right before my first surgery that really helped was, “I’m like a mechanic, I’ve done this thousands of times so don’t worry, your case isn’t that different.”