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 1, 2006

 

Gamma Knife Radiation

July 17, 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.

 

Justin David Phillips

 

 

IT’S A BIRD, IT’S A PLANE, IT’S…A ‘BENIGN’ BRAIN TUMOR!

Justin David Phillips

Born: October 28, 1975

Diagnosed: February 20, 2007, Age 31

Surgical Resection: Translabyrinthine Approach May 1, 2007 – Toronto, Ontario

 Home: Winnipeg, Manitoba,  Canada

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Let me preface this by saying that I truly believe in fate and what happened to me was meant to be. I have experienced every emotion, which a human can have some I liked but most I didn’t. Staying as positive as I could throughout this entire experience was very important to help me through the struggles of being told “you have a brain tumor…but it’s benign?” (Is that supposed to give me comfort?)