Brain Surgery to Half Ironman

The great thing about this new journey for me is that I get a lot of "firsts".  No, they're not realfirst time experiences in the truest sense of the word, but on this journey to Maine they are firsts.  The coolest thing about these little milestones to me is watching the progress over time.  It's like when a runner starts out and every week they go a little farther or every race is a little faster even now that sense of accomplishment is incredible, it's a rush that definitely helps to fuel the fire. On Tuesday August 22, 2017 I put my proverbial toe in the water, literally, to go for my first swim post surgery.  In the weeks leading up to surgery the pool became my stress relief, my happy place if you will.  It was the only exercise I was allowed to do and therefore I made it my mission to use that opportunity to get better.  On July 23rd, the day before surgery I was in the pool to swim a mile and now here I was a month later getting back in.  It w...

So, today was a big day for me.  Today was my post op visit with Dr. Sen at NYU just three and a half weeks after brain surgery number 2. While I was definitely optimistic going into the appointment I would say cautiously optimistic might be a better description. Thus far my recovery has been pretty uneventful.  No pain meds since 3 weeks ago, yes that's right, no pain meds since 3 days post surgery.  I was up and walking quickly while at the hospital and since returning home I have continued to walk, averaging between 4-5 miles a day.  Basically, I've done everything that I promised I would, most importantly I'd listen to my body and know when to back off. Despite feeling great, there was always the possibility that I would be told that I still had to wait to get back to life as I knew it. First, I was seen by Mary, the nurse practitioner, who looked at my incisions before removing the stitches from my head.  Step 1 ✅ Next Dr. Sen came in.  After goin...

In 2014 just 2 years after the initial surgery I was informed that it looked like the cyst that they had "totally removed" was growing back.  This wasn't a complete shock given the nature of the cyst.  At that time Dr. Sen said that we would continue to do an annual MRI to monitor the growth and decide when and if a second surgery would be necessary. 2015's scan showed slight growth, but it was deemed inconsequential, marathon training was just getting underway and I was given the green light to continue training to take on the streets of NYC. It was in the summer of 2016 that things changed....... So, I am a founding member of the greatest running club in existence, The De Novo Harriers.  Hands down the most ridiculously supportive group of people you will ever meet.  Some might even describe them as "cult like" until they experience it for themselves and drink the proverbial Kool Aid. In the summer of 2016 marathon training was in full swing, early mor...

So, what is the real beginning here?  Was it when they found my original cyst as a young adult.   Was it when they assured me it was benign and not changing? I guess any of those would qualify, but to me the real beginning was August 25th, 2012 when the cyst ruptured!!! Hearing the surgeon say that there were 3 possible outcomes, stroke, seizure or chemical meningitis.  Apparently I had chosen wisely or someone else I should say chose wisely for me, chemical meningitis it was and clearly the least severe of the 3. I was told that the damage had been done and with my sister getting married in October there would be no harm in waiting,  so we waited.  The headaches were managed and I went on with my life, December 11,  2012 I underwent a right frontal craniotomy, fancy language for what the doctor would call "minor brain surgery".  For the record, my definition of minor was slightly different, it involved him doing it on someone else an me watching!!! ...