Real Story About Brain Cancer

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My Uncle Donny was an active and athletic man. In 1997, he was diagnosed with a brain tumor. He was 31 years old. I was about four years old at the time.

As treatment for the tumor, he had chemotherapy, radiation therapy, four brain surgeries, and had to take medicines to prevent seizures and brain swelling. Some of the medicines gave him constant hunger. The tumor affected his speech and memory.

My Uncle Donny could no longer be athletic, but he never lost his sense of humor. He really liked making things with his hands. One year for Christmas my grandpa made 9 birdhouses, one for each of Uncle Donny’s sisters and brothers and for his parents. Uncle Donny painted them with the help of my Aunt Jane, his kids Owen and Aubrey, my mom, my grandma and me. I have one of those birdhouses. He also decorated his mask that was used for his radiation therapy. His mask, along with other cancer patients’ masks is on display in the Milwaukee Art Museum. In February of 2003, after battling cancer for six years, my Uncle Donny died. My family misses him.

Dedicated to my uncle.

Citations

Images of a doctor, and brain from "Microsoft Office Online" <http://office.microsoft.com/clipart/default.aspx?cag=1> Images free for non-profit and personal use. (October-February, 2003-2004).