"The Old Baldy Guy" in early May, 1998, right after Neurosurgery to excise my brain tumor at Froedtert Hospital, Milwaukee.

I regard myself today as a rather lucky, successful SURVIVOR!!

A Few Significant Events…
Date	Journal of Events [ with new/extra thoughts ]
Early March,98	I first notice the mild pressure incidents in my ears, coming every few days, lasting maybe 15 to 20 minutes. It feels a lot like congestion from a head-cold or the pressure you get in your ears when flying, and because I'm flying a lot on GE business trips around this time, I put it all down to something in my ears from all the flights. I don't get headaches or anything else strange at this phase so am not really worried at all. [Good old 20-20 hindsight makes this quite an interesting perspective!]
EarlyApril 1998	The pressure incidents are now coming more often, daily and then multiple times every day. I am now getting stress headaches from time to time after the pressure thing stops some times, and am feeling a bit tired. This is all more irritating, but still just not very serious -- "Maybe it's the 'flu?" is my main thought. I'm also a bit busy with my new office assignments and vacation planning to think about a Dr. visit, so it's more "wait and see".
Wednesday, April 9th, 1998	We (my wife & family) take a 10-day Spring break vacation trip to the Rocky Mountains, the Grand Canyon, etc. I don't feel much worse during this trip, but it's clearly not getting any better for extra relaxing. Not very sleepy, really, but still popping headache pills every day or so.
Monday, April 20th	Head out to Washington, D.C. for 2 days at a Mammography Trade Show and a 2-day visit to New York. I feel kind of nasty on the plane and also when I get up in the mornings. Tired again. Pressure is coming as often as every couple hours, and is really getting irriating. I'm not firing on all 6 cylinders, but the show/visit are their normal successes for me and the team. [I must therefore be 110% A.OK…]
Friday, April 24th	Spend a day in the office after my trip & 2 weeks out West… Not feeling too good at all, but still putting it down to the 'flu or some such annoyance.
Saturday, April 25th	We spend the weekend at my mother-in-laws house in Northern Wisconsin to deliver & set up the new computer for them. I'm starting to run rough now, and am not thinking very clearly. Some things go well, others not! We can't make it work with their printer & the modem that was working fine decided to die when we needed to use it! A trip to the nearest computer store fixed the modem, thank heavens.
Monday April 27th thru Wednesday	I'm now feeling much the worse for wear, and just don't feel like waking up and going to the office. I sleep in until about 2 in the afternoon. I often get this way when I'm sick, just crash/sleep it off & get better, so I now am putting it all down to some kind of strange 'flu without a doubt. This goes on for 2 or 3 days (sleepiness), and I decide I need to get in to the doc to get it checked but it will just have to wait until I get back from San Francisco.
Friday, May 1st, 1998	Fly out to San Francisco for a weekend away with my wife and my brother Alan; she flew out on Wednesday for a 2-day seminar, and Alan is also working out there. We have a nice day together on Saturday, but I'm feeling very under the weather, all told. I encounter for the first time something that I never ran across before… black circles in each eye during the pressure thing. Not having a clue what this was, I just noted it.
Monday, May 4th	I visit with my family doctor, Tom Dougherty, to understand what's going on with this pressure stuff. As I explain all of my symptoms, inlcuding the "new" circles in my eyes, it's pretty clear he's unable to reach a crisp diagnosis. He sees some inflammation in my left ear canal, but not much else. He prescribes something for what may be an ear infection, and schedules me for a CT scan "to check for any blood-flow problems". [I know he's thinking this in relationship to my diabetes, & I continue to not be very worried about this…can't be too serious, after all, can it?]
Tuesday, May 5th, 1998 10:30am	My first ever CT scan. It's a GE machine, which I'm happy and impressed with! The scan is pretty simple and not very worrisome for me (I already have a large frame of reference from my 12+ years with GE). I am surprised, however, by the radiologist telling me 1/2-way through the scan that he has seen "an anomaly" on the scan and that I need to a meet with my family doc to discuss the results. With not a clue as to what might be going on, I'm more irritated than worried about this news!
1pm	I meet again with Dr. Dougherty to learn the results of the CT scan. He actually tells me very little, really. "You have a growth in your head" is pretty much all he says about it. Nothing about the size, risks, location, etc. He also wants me to have an MRI scan and meet with a neurologist. I interpret his statements to mean that I have a "tiny" (peanut-sized, the tip of your little finger, …) something-or-other lurking inside my head that is going to be fixed with a pill or something else simple and non-complicated. I'm pretty much 110% wrong, but just don't know it yet. He ushers me out to his receptionist with a sheet of instructions for her. I then hear the words "primary brain tumor" for the first time as the receptionist is on the phone to Waukesha Memorial Hospital to schedule an urgent MR scan. Not yet fully understanding what we're dealing with, it doesn't mean too much. [I'm still on the "something small/simple" thought train…]
2pm	My first ever MRI scan. It's also from GE Medical Systems, which is good. It's over in about an hour, and I get a set of 18 films (each with about 12 images) to give to the neurologist in the morning. I sit in my car and look at several of the image scans, but don't see anything I can recognize as significant… It must be "hard to see", therefore we must still be in the "something small/simple" zone.
Evening	We sit down and look at the MRI films more carefully after dinner. I see for the first time that there is a pretty big white area in the middle of my left hemisphere. This is a fairly major shock as I come to understand that I simply missed these films earlier. I estimate the size of the "thing" to be a bit bigger than a golf ball, elongated a bit, but about that size. I also finally connect to the term "primary brain tumor" and am now more than a little worried. I search out one of my books about the brain and learn this little bastard is sitting right in the center of my speech and communication centers. Not good at all. I have a sinking feeling that really isn't very nice. I don't sleep too well. Neither does my wife.
Wednesday, May 6th, 1998 10:45am	We meet with Dr. Chapman, the neurologist at my medical clinic. I get a fairly detailed neurological evaluation, both mental and physical. Am I feeling OK? Have I had anything like a seizure? Can I say a tongue-twister? The physical part reminds me a lot of the well-known drunk driver roadside tests: touch your nose with your eyes closed, follow my finger left/right/up/down, walk in a straight line heel-to-toe and so forth. He also checks all my reflexes, muscle strength, balance, etc. Everything he checks seems to be running A.OK, which allows me to start to feel a little better already! He's a lot more specific than Dr. Dougherty was on Monday, and shares his perspective on what's going on. It's clear to him that the pressure is coming from the growth of the tumor and the fluids caused by the irritation of sensitive membranes and tissues. The films look to him very much like it's an external tumor, growing from the duma into the brain tissue, with very little interaction of the tumor and the brain itself. [one way to visualize this kind of tumor is to press a small rock into a ballon…] Because he cannot make any guarantees, he also spells out that it could also be an internal tumor, growing from the brain tissues with some significant potential problems, including difficulties with surgery (due to interconnections) & complete removal (leaving "roots" that need radiation and/or chemo). He suggests that the next step in understanding is to let a neurosurgeon open it up and do a biopsy. This will be able to tell us immediately what kind of tumor we're dealing with and what we probably have to do to manage it. We agree to go to the next step and leave a little more than just shaken.
After lunch	I head into the office for the 1st time in a week or so and meet with a couple of friends who rag on me about extended vacations, etc (our usual/typical exchange of insults).They're unfortunately shocked almost into silence by the news I have about the damned tumor. Word is out…
Thursday, May 7th, 1998 9:30am	We then meet with Dr. Pat Walsh, the neurosurgeon at Froedtert Hospital, Milwaukee. He's an amazing man who is very confident in his ability to help with this problem. He talks us through the different "families" of tumors, from low-grade, slow-growing benign virtual irritants to the full-blown malignant fast growth killers called GBM's (Glioblastoma Multiforme). He also describes our alternatives in detail, from ignoring the whole thing to full-blown open-cranial surgery for a biopsy and removal of most of the tumor, and then lets us choose how we want to proceed. I trust him enough already to opt for the surgical approach, and agree to get started RIGHT NOW! This turns into an amazing day, with a full-body CT scan to check for other cancerous tumors, and a full neuro angio workup to try and determine blood flows to the tumor. They have a slot in the O.R. schedule tomorrow after lunch … do we want to do this? Yes. Ready? Yes. Sure? Yes. [read: "Uuummm, I think … maybe" to all of the above]
Friday, May 8th, 1998 Early am	I'm as worried as I've ever been about anything in my life as I awaken… I didn't sleep well & this journey in front of me today has no guarantees, no return ticket, and no safety net if there's a slip. Even a minor surgical problem could destroy the thing that is ME and leave me in a coma or hooked up to a machine or a mental vegetable. It really sucks, but there are no viable alternatives. My wife holds me as I shiver and sob my way through these harsh doubts for almost an hour. We make it… I spend an hour on the phone with my Mother in England. This is not a great discussion for either of us. I try to leave her on an upbeat note, but it doesn't stick too well. I promise to have my wife call back as we move forwards, and hang up to her tears. Tough news.
11am	Admitted to surgery for prep, etc. Boy, I'm already near to starving and desperately thirsty … nothing by mouth after midnight were the very explicit directions when we left on Thursday night. And of course not very relaxed…
1pm to perhaps 7pm or so	Neuro-surgery starts… I can clearly recall going through the doors and into the O.R. but that's about it until later in the evening. My wife tells me that as I came out of the anasthesia I asked the attending nurse(s) to bring me "a large dark beer" … somewhat of a good sign! I also know from my wife that several of our family and friends came to be with her at the hospital throughout the afternoon to help with the ordeal. We both have a lot to thank them all for… Les & Marg Pagel, John Bechtold, Frank Childress, Srini Seshadri, Nancy Leiker, Regina Doll and Jan Kloeffler… Our thanks and love to each of you!!
Evening	My wife visits with me for several hours in the ICU, having sent everyone else home. I have a wonderful full-head bandage that makes me look a bit like a large "Pippy Longleggings" doll. I'm not very literate, but it's all from the anasthesia. I only get drops of ice water every 20 or 30 minutes, but they're as close to nectar and ambrosia as I have ever enjoyed! I get to vomit all over the floor around 9 or 10pm, which is pretty good, I think. She gets to leave and go get some rest after this.
Saturday, May 9th, 1998	I spend the day in bed in the ICU. IV brings stuff in, catheter takes it all out. No food, just some measured liquids … Lots of sleep, several visitors during the day. No idea who! We get to learn from Dr. Walsh that the surgery was a success but that preliminary biopsy results show that the tumor is a GBM for sure (almost certain). Not a high spot moment for my wife, but I really don't understand the differences yet, so the news is tougher for her than for me.
Sunday, May 10th	Another ICU yawn-boring-"I want to go home" day.
Monday, May 11th	I get to move out of the ICU into the ward; transportation guys roll my bed with me in it. I take a stroll around the place too with my wife on one side and the nurse on the other. It's SO good to walk!
Tuesday, May 12th	I finally pass my get-out-of-jail test (have a bowel movement) and can leave the hospital. Nancy Leiker & Maureen Pagel visited and helped us carry our many, many flowers and cards out to the car to go home. Mike Gueth called me at home, having just missed us at the hospital!
Wednesday, May 13th	My first full day at home -- it's sure nice to be here!
Saturday, May 16th, 1998	We go to Glyn Livermore's wedding, but I feel very disoriented and under the weather from the after-effects of the steroids that we stopped yesterday, so we just left early.
May-June, 1998	I spend most of May & June just sleeping as I recover from the radical surgery. Nothing hurts much but a generally pooped feeling surrounds everything, probably normal for recovery. My wife takes a lot of time off work to make sure I'm ok in the 1st week or so, which is really nice!
Thursday, June 11th	Radiation Therapy starts today. Visit #1 of 30
Tuesday, June 16th	We visit the Froedtert Brain Tumor Survival Group who meet every month for a couple of hours in the evening. We meet several wonderful people who all shared their experiences with us, providing still more fuel to the fire of my positive state of mind.
Monday, June 15th	Got to start back to work at GE part time, mornings. It's a big relief!
Summer '98	We have several up's & down's thru the summer, but none of these really have anything to do with the tumor! I finish radiation therapy with some hair loss but that's about it. Start chemo in August with no major complications (I get a bit too much "juice" on the 1st go-round and it takes my blood cell counts past the comfortable level but stops before it's really life-threatening!) I have been a bit sleepy on and off and also an upset tummy. My MRI's are showing the tumor reducing with each scan, good news to say the least!
May'99	An anniversary is celebrated by us all as one year has passed with flying colors! I am feeling as "normal" as I ever have, something we didn't know if we should expect or not. A big day!
Summer '99	So many things to share about the summer… all good! The chemo treatment is as irritating as ever, but walking the tightrope between uncomfortable medication and the probable alternative is not that difficult!! I am experiencing "dizzy" moments, when the floor seems to be moving under my feet for a second or so, but this doesn't seem to be a big concern with the medical team. Another of "Life's little complexities" to trip over!!
Fall '99 thru Winter Month 18	Chemo continues at a varying pace, sometimes more manageable than others, but apparent progress regardless. Then one day an "enhancement" pops up on my periodic MR scan… a red flag warning that we're about to enter phase 2 with some kind of tumor resurrection. This is just about the worst possible "expected soon" news that you might encounter with this disease. You know it's simply sleeping up there but you're just not sure how to avoid treading too heavily. Difficult times. While searching for new information and possible help with all of this, a Stanford magazine article presents itself. Mary Catherine Fish shares her story about the way life ended for her husband, Tom. It's very difficult from an emotional standpoint to read, but is really worth the effort.
Spring,2000 Month 23	Some good news at last! Having tried a different kind of MR scan (Spectroscopy) without success, a Pet scan is scheduled (out at Madison) and brings marvellously uplifting news!! The specific MR enhancement exhibits no metabolic activity at all… it's necrotic (scar) tissue, a normal aspect of the treatement phase. One of the most enjoyable associated news items from this diagnosis is that we can suspend chemo treatments pending any further changes! Summer's going to be almost normal for us … Whoo-Weeeee!! This also reached the headlines for GEMS daily news … See this GE Story
Summer/Fall 2000 @ Month 31	6 months have now passed without negative news… I've had MR scans every 2 months that show this pretty clearly. The grasping, grinding clutch of chemo steadily eased off through the summer and into the fall, making my life a little less complex. I also "graduated" from the 6x checks/year phase to the next, 4x vists, allowing me 3 months between visits, one more nice improvement! Many people around the office have seen or heard of my GE News article and stopped by to see how things are progressing, etc. It's so nice to hear from old friends and acquaintances, even though the subject matter is a little difficult for some… Another interesting "public statement" communique is in progress: a new short video that is intended to show how our everyday work for GE Medical Systems has enormous impacts on people with potentially terminal diseases like mine. I'm hoping to be able to get a computer viewable version and release a link to it here in the next month, so stay tuned!
Winter 2000 @ Month 33	Cold and dark days from the weather (as ever!) but nothing from my little buddy, who sleeps quietly. It's time for a winter warming trip to sunny Mexico soon, so we're waiting for this!! The GE video was released in January. A 6-minute discussion about how GE Medical's equipment helped 3 employee's that was very, very well received. It helps people to know how what they do every day "at the office" helps real people in a real way. It's posted inside GE (too big for external)
Spring'01 Got to stop counting months!!	I hit "the end of the tunnel" recently… Early May is my 3-year "anniversary" and everything's staying "flat line" as time clicks along by me!
Summer,Fall &Winter 2001	Months pass by uneventfully (for the tumor, at least)
Jan 25th, 2002	A tragedy strikes right out of the blue: my son, Alex, passed away… please visit my memorial page to him?
Spring 2002	Life blossoms all around us with the spring. My sadness with Alex's death comes & goes with a mind of its own, like the rain & sunshine, the moon & stars, the river & trees… I enter my 5th year with this now-familiar disease as I pass my 4th tumor anniversary with no change in the scan results. This is a good thing. I would wish for many other ways to celebrate…it would of course just be better if I could share with both my sons instead of just Stuart…
Late Fall 2003	It's been more than a year and a half since I visited this page with intent to update. I find myself wanting to change the message at the end because I'm pretty down today -but- it's still true so I move on… My wife's dear brother, Les, passed on recently after battling cancer for almost a year, a sad thing for many but part of life for us all. Survival for me continues & Alex visits in my mind, coming & going on his schedule. I wish you well, fair reader, in all things.
Spring 2004	My 7th anniversary, the start of year 8, is coming as I write this in late March… Fun in life and at work continues well with ups & downs.
2005	At the end of yet another calendar year of survival, life continues well! I feel very lucky to be allowed to share some personal perspectives (like this) with folks who are newly puzzled and often aghast with their diagnosis… While I do think that my positive spin helps a little, its a sad thing to see others succumb.
Sep'08	I passed the 10-year milestone in March of this year and we held the "Scarecrow" celebration at our house on Saturday Sept 13th… about 100 friends and family attended along with a tent, a roasted pig, kegs of beer and a live jazz band!! Some of the many, many pictures (thanks, Marie!) can be viewed by clicking on the links below… to see the next picture, flip to this window & click the link and then flip back to the picture page (which came up when you clicked the 1st picture) To start, here are some family snaps, 2nd and 3rd as well as a couple of sisters (with a hubby), 2nd, and 3rd. 2 of the brothers (with Jeanette), 2 cousins and a snap of Don & wife… no, she's not mad at me, just captured in a "special" way!! Some friends and some party people, 2nd, 3rd and 4th. Don got several gifts… Thanks, Caryl! Here's John's band, (he's the sax-man -- thanks, Johnnie-bop!) the cake (I just LOVE that mouse!) and the super-yummy piggie… finally, here he is with Lipstick!
Jan-2024	While it’s been many years since my last update of the details, we learned from a late-January 2024 eye-surgeon visit that another no-so-good residual affect of treatments for my ’98 brain tumor (specifically the “60 Grays in 60 Days” radiation therapy) had shown up. Our visit was to assess & possibly deploy a surgical solution for my “wandering eye” (see the snap in my eDiary—scroll down a little?) that had started showing up before our UK trip last September, also in the eDiary! He advised that there was no surgery that he could perform as the cause was most likely from a damaged nerve to my left eye. The arrival of this (which is also causing some tricky balance issues) was not great news as it added to my existing list of difficulties like being unable to read a book due to the loss of my short-term memory… eSigh, but on the good side? Am not yet dead!!
My 25th Anniversary was April 8th, 2023 Don Shave	I do continue to otherwise be blessed by Mother Nature's delights and by the presence of my family & friends, each and all of whom have helped me in so many ways with my journey to today so many, many thanks! "Upbeat" is still Everything in Life… As we continue to float gently down the river of life with my story, my wife & I are quite well with our house in the southern state of Georgia in the US of A, along with our grandkids and family, barring all of our losses… The Dragon Sleeps, still. Tread carefully, tiptoe along, quiet-like… but Dragon's Breath, though… none is appearing today… I do try to smile a lot and work & play hard so I can enjoy as much of EVERYTHING in my life that I possibly can… "Just In Case"

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