tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52399639805323361312012-02-11T16:28:53.602-08:00Don Cochranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12411529328015013435noreply@blogger.comBlogger11100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5239963980532336131.post-70666463083350383332012-02-11T16:28:00.000-08:002012-02-11T16:28:49.033-08:00My brother-in-law John&nbsp;Tyler passed away yesterday.&nbsp; He was only 36 years old.&nbsp; John was ohndiagnosed with brain cancer just over two years ago.&nbsp; The classification of his brain tumor is called Glioblastoma Multiforme.&nbsp; This cancer is especially deadly and there is really no cure.&nbsp; This is the same cancer that afflicted Ted Kennedy.&nbsp; John initially complained&nbsp;of severe headaches several weeks before his diagnosis.&nbsp; The week of his diagnosis he suffered loss of movement in his left leg.&nbsp; He went to a primary care physician.&nbsp; I believe it was the first time he saw this physician.&nbsp; I don't believe he had been to the doctor in 10 years.&nbsp; He actually went and saw our physician who treats my wife, and I as well as my mother-in-law.&nbsp; John did not tell us what doctor he was going to see.&nbsp; He did not think our doctor was very good or at least that is what he said because he so disliked doctors.&nbsp; But, he did go.&nbsp; John presented his symptoms to the physician and the physician made a great call&nbsp; on what&nbsp;could have easily been attributed to simple case of migraines.&nbsp; The family doctor referred John to a neurologist for a work-up.&nbsp; The neurologist saw John that same day I believe and ordered an MRI.&nbsp; As soon as the MRI, came back the neurologist new that John was a walking miracle.&nbsp; John's MRI clearly displayed a golf-ball size tumor in his right frontal lobe behind his right eye.&nbsp; The fact that John was walking and talking and going about a normal life was mesmerizing to the neurologist.&nbsp; The neurologist told John he had a tumor in his brain and made an appointment for him to see a renowned Atlanta brain surgeon (this surgeon treated a US Senator Paul Coverdell several years ago).&nbsp; The hospital bumped several less severe cases and scheduled John for an immediate resection of the tumor.&nbsp; A resection is a medical term for removing the tumor.&nbsp; John endured the surgery and came out with his vitals in tact.&nbsp; The surgeon met with John's mother, John's sister, and I and delivered the bad news.&nbsp; John's cancer was a terminal illness.&nbsp; They could treat him with radiation and chemotherapy and try and extend his life, but there was no cure.&nbsp; We were dumbfounded.&nbsp; The doctor stayed with us for 30 minutes and did his best to answer our questions but there was no light at the end of the tunnel.&nbsp; The doctor was very graceful and kind in his delivery and I will always admire him for that.&nbsp; Many of John's friends had congregated with us in the hospital during John's surgery and so I asked the doctor if he would come out and give his friends a quick synopsis of what he told us.&nbsp; I came out with him and left John's mother and my wife in the private room.&nbsp; I introduced the surgeon and prefaced his briefing with them.&nbsp; I am telling you this because there was a funny moment where one of John's friends (whom I am very fond of) asked a question of the surgeon.&nbsp; He asked: 'Is it real difficult to perform brain surgery?' or something to that effect.&nbsp; The doctor smiled and replied, 'Well, it would be very difficult for you, but it is not so difficult for me' and he chuckled.&nbsp; It was a light moment in an otherwise terrible hour.<br /><br />More to come...<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5239963980532336131-7066646308335038333?l=dcsbrain.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Don Cochranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12411529328015013435noreply@blogger.com0