On December 19th, 2013 I started to have health complications which included severe double vision, dizziness, and nausea. Over the course of the next week, Sarah (my wife) and I made visits to different doctors and specialists. It was explained that I am suffering from ‘6th nerve palsy’, which means something was affecting the nerve that controls the movement of my right eye. I was scheduled for an MRI on December 26th.
The very next day, I received a phone call that would immediately change our lives. I was told that I had a large tumor in my head pressing on the nerve behind my right eye. The doctor then scheduled a meeting with a Neurosurgeon a week later.
On January 3rd, I met with the Neurosurgeon and the news he delivered was what we feared most. He explained that my tumor was not benign, but, in fact, cancerous. It is called a chordoma tumor, located at the base of my skull. The 2-inch wide tumor is positioned between both of my carotid arteries, below the pituitary gland, and in front of the brain stem, so the surgery and radiation are very risky due to all of the major structures which are located around the tumor.
Over the next week, Sarah and I did everything we could to find the best doctor/surgeons in the country to remove as much of the tumor as possible. We are hopeful that a total resection will happen, and then proton beam radiation therapy.
We have our good days and our bad days. We sometimes wonder why this would happen to us. But we have faith that God will see us through this. We have faith in God’s perfect plan and that He will give us the strength we need during this journey of ours. We are determined to beat this cancer through our faith in God, our diet, and personal fitness. We are so lucky and blessed to have amazing support and love from friends and family across the states and around the world.
I am most thankful and blessed for a wife that has amazing strength and hope. I would never be able to fight this without her. We are determined to beat this and we WILL beat this!
Tell us your Uncommon Story
Telling your chordoma story in your own words can help others in our community feel more connected and prepared to take on whatever may lie ahead. We invite you share your experiences and insights with others, who can benefit from knowing they’re not alone.