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Strong Will

Published on July 19, 2023 in Share Your Story

Guest Author: Arlene G. in Massachusetts

This has the potential to be a very long story as our remarkable and beloved son, Will, was diagnosed with glioblastoma in early May 2012, entered hospice on May 13, 2022, his 40th birthday and died in June of last year.

Growing up, Will was a sweet little boy who loved soccer and was a proficient freestyle skier and diver.

Living for ten years with the burden of knowing what was going on in his head and what the outcome would be was difficult. Despite this hardship, Will, who was treated at UCSF, managed to go back to school obtaining two master’s degrees in music from Mills College, also in California.

We call him strong Will as through four craniotomies, radiation, two different rounds of chemo and two gamma knife procedures, he maintained his independence, intellect, humor and love for his family and many friends on both coasts.

During his short life, Will managed to become a gifted musician playing guitar, pipe organ, clarinet and keyboard. He was also a composer. When not improving those skills, he revealed his remarkable sense of humor, vast store of knowledge, and highly educated political views.

Mediflown home to family and hospice on the east coast, Will resisted the inevitable by continuing his diet and supplements right up until morphine. He so wanted to live! And he so wanted a cure for others.

His death left his family with devastating grief that we are dealing with each day. Friends still support us as we work on accepting our new normal.

We so loved Will and will miss him forever!

TAGGED WITH: #GBMDay


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

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