Sean Ratliff’s Survival!

Sean Ratliff will turn 29 years old on January 31, 2018. His brain tumor is a grade 2 astrocytoma in the right frontal lobe. He has had his brain tumor for 10 years. The out of the blue seizure happened at home during his first year of college at Johnson and Wales University and Charlotte 2008. His neurosurgeon, Dr. Asher, recommended a craniotomy to remove the tumor and surrounding brain matter. This type of tumor has legs or roots that travel throughout the brain.

One year later it’s back. A second craniotomy, more brain removed and 30 sessions of radiation and this bought him 4 years before its return again in 2013. This time Dr Asher went in and took as much brain as he could – a full lobotomy of the right frontal lobe. So far it has not returned. He has brain scans every four months to keep a close eye out for its return.

He is disabled. He has hopes to someday get back to school. He’s alive! As caregivers to our loved ones that is all that matters each and each year that I get to wish him a happy birthday is the best gift of all. We don’t have much time.

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