Chance

Chance

Brad

I had suffered from headaches for roughly the last 5 years. At first the frequency was enough that I could write them off to stress, especially because I am active duty military. Then, about 2 years ago, the headaches became more frequent. Once a week. Once a day. Then three to four times a day. It was all I could do to make it through a day at work. Then, my wife and I were blessed with a beautiful baby boy. Aiden came to us at the beginning of June, 2010. A month later, after a some issues between my boss and I at work, I came home and contemplated suicide. I started counseling a few days later to help prevent this from happening again. Almost 6 months later I finally sought the help of a doctor for my depression. She diagnosed me and put me on medication to help. I still had headaches. Shortly after that, I began developing double vision.

In February, 2011 my wife and I decided to take a vacation with her family to Florida. I promised my wife while we were there that I would go to an eye doctor and get my prescription “fixed”. While at the eye doctor, he noticed some pretty severe swelling in my optic nerves and figured it to be hydrocephalus, being caused by a brain tumor. He told me I should immediately go to the ER. After a visit to the hospital and a CT scan, the doctors found a tumor on my pineal gland. An MRI at a better suited hospital revealed both a pineal and a pituitary tumor. Two brain surgeries and 28 radiation treatments later, we anxiously await another MRI to tell us that I’m tumor free! I hope everyone can share their stories and this message can continue to reach further around the world!

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