My Papi

My papi was diagnosed with a glioblastoma in November 2019. Never having had any symptoms present, he had been growing this tumor for quite a bit at the time of his diagnosis. He had a sudden onset of slurred speech, memory loss, and cognitive impairment that was both so random and so scary.

What was initially diagnosed as rapid-onset dementia was later confirmed to be a golf-sized glioblastoma. His life, as well as ours of his family, changed overnight. Someone who was so active, loved on his family, and was enjoying retirement life along with my mother had his life suddenly cut short in five short months.

A solid fixture in our family is now gone, and we are still navigating his loss five years later. I wear gray in May for my papi.

TAGGED WITH: glioblastoma

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