Brain Tumor Turns Ordinary Painter Into ‘Picasso’

A life-threatening brain tumor has miraculously turned a New Jersey painter from an ordinary artist into a promising Picasso — who now sells her masterpieces for as much as $7,500 apiece. more …

Scott Ryan

 

 

 

 

 

April 2007

 

 Scott Ryan

 

 

Canton, Michigan  

Diagnosed 3.5 cm AN in August 2004 at age 28

Microsurgery #1 (Retrosigmoid Approach): October 7, 2004

Microsurgery #2 (Translabyrinthine Approach): February 2006

Gamma Knife Radiation: July 2007

“YOU HAVE A BRAIN TUMOR.” My heart started racing. I could feel myself growing faint. I leaned my back against the wall of the small exam room and slid down to the floor. Dr. P continued, “IT’S LARGE AND IN A BAD SPOT, COMPRESSING YOUR BRAIN STEM, WE NEED TO SCHEDULE SURGERY TO GET THAT OUT OF THERE.” I closed my eyes and tried to regain some sense of composure. I was numb.

 

Excellent brain tumor awareness site …

That I was just made aware of. Check it out!

http://www.hopewithsupport.org/

And so I conclude … life isn’t fair.

As I go through life, I continue to see bad things happen to good people. Someone please explain it to me.

After brain surgery, Mount’s Flanagan ‘just won’t stop’

At the age of 22, Brendan Flanagan felt as though he were 90.

A day after undergoing surgery in September 2007 to remove a brain tumor, Flanagan tried to walk from his bed to the bathroom at the hospital at New York University. A simple step took unbelievable effort.

“I was so unbalanced that I walked like a 90-year-old man,” recalled Flanagan, who could not lift anything heavier than a 5-pound weight for a month and was barred from physical activity for two months. “I remember the first time I got out of bed, I thought, ‘Oh, I’m an athlete. I’m fine, I’m healthy.’ They [the doctors] said, ‘You can’t walk.’ I tried to go to the bathroom and the first step I took, I went down. I thought I was walking straight, but I was walking at an angle.”

more …

Hockey Player Holm Recovering From Brain Surgery

Tobias Holm

WHEELING – As his Wheeling Nailers prepare for the upcoming ECHL Kelly Cup Playoffs, defenseman Tobias Holm is counting his blessings.

The head of the 30-year old Sweed is shaved and a long scar is visible, as he recovers from successful surgery that removed a benign brain tumor.

More …

http://www.cbs59.com/story.cfm?func=viewstory&storyid=56121

Watch Video Here.

Football Coach Faces Toughest Opponent

NORTH GEORGIA (WRCB) – Mark Mariakis was facing fourth and long with time running out, but this wasn’t on the football field; it was his life.

“I think that from that point on, I really didn’t hear a whole lot,” said Mariakis. ”I stayed in his office for about an hour.”

The North Georgia football coach was diagnosed with acoustic neuroma. After 26 years of leading teams up and down the field, he’d run into one of his toughest opponents.

Click Here for Video

Dr. James Hora, a local neurologist, says acoustic neuroma is rare.

“It’s about 8 percent of inter-cranial tumors, tumors that occur inside the brain,” said Hora.

Because it’s a rare condition, Mariakis traveled to a Los Angeles hospital to have it removed. The first 24 hours after surgery were extremely difficult.

“Your heart is pounding; you’re sick; you can’t get up,” said Mariakis.

But when it comes to brain tumors, Hora says Mariakis was one of the lucky ones.

“The grading system goes from one, which is benign, to four, which is the most aggressive,” said Hora.

Hora says the more aggressive the tumor, the poorer the prognosis.

The acoustic neuroma is considered e a grade one. You remove it, and by in large it’s gone.

“They got all the tumor out, facial nerves not damaged,” said Mariakis.

There was some permanent damage. Mariakis lost hearing in his right ear, but that couldn’t dampen sounds of joy and relief as he arrived home. Mariakis considers that a small price to pay.

While doctors say it will take two to three months for a complete recovery, he looks forward to getting back out on the football field and spending time with family and friends not taking a moment for granted.

“It’s been overwhelming,” said Mariakis. ”It’s humbling to think that many people care to write, text, email, call or pray.”

Hora says when it comes to brain tumors sometimes there are no obvious symptoms. Some warning signs to look for are headaches, seizures, numbness and language problems.

BAHA Simulation

Last week I went for a follow up appointment with my Otologist and was introduced to the BAHA (Bone Anchored Hearing Aid) implant. Because I’m completely deaf in my left ear, and my hearing is great in my right ear, I am a “candidate” for BAHA. They allowed me to do a BAHA simulation in the office so that I could see what it’s like. The put on some headphone-type things, but one side was on my forehead and the other was on on the bone behind my bad ear. I plugged my good ear with my finger and as the Dr. whispered in my bad ear, I could hear as clear is day. It was quite amazing and almost brought a tear to my eye. Even though it was simply transporting sound to my other ear, it was the first time since 2004 that I could hear someone whispering on my left side. Amazing stuff.

Maybe this makes me shallow, but despite this amazing technology I’m probably going to stay away from the implant. First and foremost, after 2 brain surgeries, any thought of elective surgery, as small as it may be, makes me shiver. Second, and this sounds bad, but I don’t like the idea of a small implant sticking out of my head. Maybe it’s a lack of confidence or insecurity, but I already feel that people stare and judge me based on my facial weakness, eye issues, etc. Having a small implant sticking out of my head would make me even more uncomfortable in my own skin.

I’d be interested to hear from anyone that has BAHA. It truely does seem amazing.

Virus could be key to fighting brain tumors

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — Two Bay Area researchers may be at the forefront of a new method of treating brain cancer. The therapies are based on a discovery made in their lab, involving tumors and a common virus.

http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/health&id=6730765