Positive thought time for the brain cancer family of CP:
1) 2nd brain surgery in 7 months. This time his personality/cognitive functions/memory were much better afterwards.
2) This time his physical symptoms were worse. He had not a single physical symptom (walking, moving, balance, vision, etc) last time but this time the peripheral vision in his right eye is pretty much gone and his right arm and leg are very weak.
To me this is a win. I'd prefer to lose a leg than loose brain function and be free to drool over any buss seat I want.
3) Before the surgery my dad broke down. He wasn't sure it was even worth going through knowing he'd just had brian surgery and radiation treatments only 6 months earlier. What would he lose next? Would he even make it? Were the treatments even working?
After the 2nd surgery (and before the resulting swelling) there was immediate improvement in his condition. Once he came out and woke up we knew he'd be better and the docs confirmed it. Prognosis is that all symptoms should cease after a while.
4) Brain cancer sucks balls. It's important to understand that when they give you a prognosis or life expectancy that requires you to exhaust every ****ing option out there. They don't say you might need 3 surgeries in 15 months. They guarantee nothing and it will require you to give everything.
You will live as long as you are willing (or able) to fight.
Final thoughts: Dr. Litofsky (
http://medicine.missouri.edu/surgery/n-scott-.html ) is the ****ing Joe Montana of brain surgery. His bedside manner is that of a vet in the World Poker Tour. He will not show and I'm not convinced he has any emotion during a consult.
That said he's ****ing astounding. If I won the lottery and my dad needed another surgery in 6 months (very likely) I'd still go to him...