Firefighter’s Cancer Story

My story started with a scary night for my family. After spending the evening teaching firefighters at our local college, I returned home and got ready for bed. Nothing seemed wrong when I went to bed. I woke up three days later in the hospital. When I woke up, I had no idea how I got there. My wife Mary and my doctor are sitting in my room. 

Mary tells me I had a seizure in my sleep and fell out of bed. She realized I was having a seizure and called for an ambulance. EMS got on the scene and realized I was not doing good. EMS requested Med Flight, and I was transported to the hospital to be stabilized. After I was stabilized, I was flown 30 miles to Madison. I was sedated until my seizure calmed down. When I came to, I was told I had a brain tumor. 

After a couple of days, I was released from the hospital and scheduled for brain surgery one week later. The tumor was removed and sent for testing. A long three weeks later, we were told the tumor was a low-grade oligodendroglioma. A few weeks later, I started an aggressive radiation treatment plan and then six months of aggressive chemotherapy. About halfway through chemo, my chemo doctor moved to another hospital. My treatments were moved to UW Carbone Cancer Center in Madison. My chemo treatments continued. My new doctor is great, and now I’m just being monitored and watched for trends.

We learned a lot during treatments and how important family is during this time. During treatments, I was weak and tired. One thing I learned early on was to keep a good, positive attitude during this and keep humor in your life. It will help you get through this.

It was decided that it would be best that after 32 years in the fire service, I retire from my career firefighter job due to the seizure and side effects from chemotherapy. I am now enjoying retirement and looking for ways I can support others who have cancer and brain tumors.

Remember, keep a positive attitude and Fight Like Mike!!

TAGGED WITH: Oligodendroglioma

Opinions expressed within this story belong solely to the author and do not reflect the views or opinions of the National Brain Tumor Society.