Bouncing Back from Brain Tumors

2011-08-06 07:07:49 | Source

Boise -
To say it's been a trying year for Tony Pozeck doesn't even begin to describe it.

"It's definitely been frightening," told me during an interview in February.

The avid biker and hiker had one tumor removed in January. He spoke with us shortly before he had a second tumor taken out last month. That's the one that may have scared him the most.

"Honestly, the can't see part is what frightens me the most," he told me.

Yeah -- the can't see part.

The brain surgery meant Tony could lose his ability to see and speak. He also had a chance of losing his memory.

He also has no health insurance.

Today, we're happy to tell you that Tony is taking positive steps toward recovery.

"Today is just about a month since the surgery," he says.

And he's back to doing what he loves.

"It's kind of what keeps me centered and focused," he says about hiking in the Boise foothills. "It's what relaxes me."

"You know, they want you to get out and walk and that. So, you know, it's an easy excuse to get out in the hills."

But, lets be clear, Tony is doing well. But, it's been an uphill battle to get to this point.

His right eyelid remains shut. And for about two weeks shortly after the surgery, Tony had trouble speaking.

"I was slurring a lot," Tony says.

"It was pretty frustrating because at times I'd be saying one thing, and different words would be coming out of my mouth. I wasn't sure which things I was saying to whoever I was talking to at a time."

"Every once in a while I'll struggle to find a word. But, overall, I think it's gone really well."

Tony says his speech improved after his doctor changed his medication.

"Still, my speaking tone or intonation might be a little off," Tony says. "I think more or less it's back to normal."

Tony says the tumor was so deep inside his brain, it took the surgeon five hours just to reach it.

"And this was supposedly the deepest he's ever gone in the brain."

And what doctors discovered was -- well -- kind of gross.

"And it's from a odd cell division," says Tony. "So, it's made up of things like there's teeth in there, bone, skin, hair. Just kind of a mess of stuff that collected and formed itself in the center of the brain."

"When I first heard about it, I thought maybe I was suppose to be a twin. Found out that it has nothing to do with that."

But, if you could see him today, things are definitely looking up.

"It's just amazing to me how quickly I've been able to bounce back."

Tony says he's qualified for financial aid through Ada County that'll help pay for the $120-thousand plus surgeries. And a benefit event raised a few thousand dollars.

"Just so many people, of so many various religions, have been praying for me. It's just been something I've been able to really feel all the support from everywhere."

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Bouncing Back from Brain Tumors
2011-08-06 07:07:49 | Source
Boise -
To say it's been a trying year for Tony Pozeck doesn't even begin to describe it... ...

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