So today I decided that I wanted to write a blog about my second major surgery and first (hopefully last!) brain (not technically, but involving my brain) surgery. Most of the pictures are going to be fine and I'll warn you before I show one that is potentially disturbing.

Where to begin!?

Well, first, I'll give you the background of my condition. I was diagnosed with a Juvenile Nasopharyngeal Angiofibroma. JNA is a tumor that is fed by veins, making nosebleeds quite common. In my first run in with these tumors, I had so much blockage in my nose that I could barely breath out of my nose and it would discharge gross mucus often (Disgusting. Yes, I'm aware.) and also get very gnarly nosebleeds. I'm not talking like a nosebleed that just drips for a minute then goes away. This thing would bleed for like 15 minutes at a time in a constant stream like a sink. I had this surgery in the summer and recovered much faster than the doctors expected, everything was grand. Only issue was that I haven't had feeling in the upper left portion of my teeth since then. Total mass removed: Approx. 4 golf ball sized masses.

Now that I've briefly covered that, lets move onto the current operation. It all started when I was at the doctors for my regular checkup from the first op. My Doctor noticed a small swelling in the top of my sinuses. I had an MRI shortly following and turned 18 in the meantime which means one thing in the hospital, you're an Adult.

This brought me to a whole new set of doctors in the big boy section of the U of M. Boy do I feel special!

So going into this new section, I was not yet aware that I had another tumor, only speculation. I knew the outcome already though, it was pretty obvious. Going into the first appointment, I said the only thing that I hope they say is that they can just go through my nose and get the tumor out without having to seriously cut me up. Man did I get shafted!

I met my new doctors and they told me the news along with my Mother, Father and Step-Dad followed by the procedure. The procedure was pretty much exactly what I didn't want to hear. This tumor wasn't in such a convenient position as the last time. This tumor had eaten through the base of my skull and attached itself to the sack of tissue around the brain (this is MUCH higher than the last tumor), thus implementing a whole new issue and set of doctors.

The procedure was different because when you're dealing with the brain, obviously, you have to be much more careful. You can't just blindly hack away at the tumor because you could hurt important nerves causing blindness, retardation, and whatnot. Because of this, they informed me that they were going to have to "lower my pallet" which is just a nice way of saying that they were going to break my jaw. Also, they said they were going to make a small incision across the top of my head from ear to ear and pull the skin forward to gain full visibility of the tumor. So much for me thinking they would go through my nose, right?

So now we'll fast forward to Monday the 16th, the first part of the two part operation. This day, the doctors go in and embolize the tumor, meaning they go in and block the veins feeding the tumor. This is helpful because when the doctors go in on Wednesday, the tumor will not bleed as much because it has no flow of blood going to it. I remember waiting around in a bed for a little bit, getting an IV in the top of my hands (which I was pissed about, the top of the hand hurts like crazy. Surprisingly it wasn't bad though). Some transport people came to get me, I remember up to being in an elevator, then I was out.

I woke up at like 7 at night maybe to being in a bunch of pain in my back because of this uncomfortable bed I was lying on. I remember a few people being in the ICU with me and not much else. Jackie almost passed out though because she's a big wimp and can't handle the smell of surgery, haha.

The next day was like a day off for me, I just got to sit around in the ICU because my next surgery was on Wednesday. I don't really even remember what I did, but it wasn't much. Josh and Cobleigh came up to visit me along with Jackie.

Me and Josh with my sweet hospital Mac N' Cheese,


Here's Yack bugging me while I'm trying to eat too, haha.


Cobleigh was probably a little too afraid that she was going to hurt me if she tried to take a picture of me, but I assure you, she was there!

Now lets move on to Wednesday morning, the big surgery day. I just want to say that it's a really funny feeling to know the date of the worst day of your life prior to it. At first, freeing and come the day of, crushing.


This is me about to go into the Operating Room (OR), talking with one of the anesthesiologist surrounded by my Mother, Step-Father, and Step-Mother. I think Dad took the picture.

I seriously don't even know how I go about describing my feeling during this picture. This is me when I'm probably the most scared I've ever been in my entire life. It's not like fear that makes you jump but a fear that makes you retract into the linings of yourself withholding the urge to cry, feeling desperately alone with no way out.

My doctors came and got me and transported me to the OR. Here's me rollin' in.
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I'm just going to warn you now, there will be a few pictures coming up that you may find disturbing. I'll also let you know that my mother looked at them, so if she can handle it, I'm sure you can too.

This is me, asleep with some of my Doctors hanging around.


Here's Dr. Ward making the first incision through the top of my dome,


Removing the skin.


Top of my head.



And the epic side shot.


I don't really remember waking up after the surgery. I just remember being very foggy on Thursday night. Friday I was moved to the main floor and had my catheter removed. Seriously there is probably no pain worse than a catheter, avoid at all costs.

Here's me taking my first walk since surgery with Jackie and Esteban. Sweet turban, I know.


One thing that I want to say that I thought was funny was that my room tech on the first night was Erica, the girl who I used to work with at Portraits by Alex. Small world!

So now I'm residing at home, I can't wait to be back to 100%. Healing is boring and trying to sleep while healing is horrible. I had a dream the other night that Jud overdosed on ribs. Yes, barbeque ribs. Awesome, I know.

I have from like 50 to 100 metal staples in my head that have to come out on the 5th I think.


and this is me today, I look like a monster from The Hills Have Eyes.

My face is still really numb and obviously swollen, but will go back to normal shortly.

That's all I have to say for now, I might modify this later on if I want to add some more. If you read all of that, thanks, really.

Brandon