Page 18 - French and Electric Blue - Winter 2017-2018
P. 18
Getting by with a little help from my friends
MSP Captain Honored to be Recognized at Brain Tumor Walk
By Captain Pi Downsbrough
On October 22, 2017, I was extremely challenging. So I hope there is something in my
humbled to be recognized as an “honoree” for story which speaks to you in your experiences,
the 2017 Brain Tumor Walk, held at the DCR whether you are a patient or survivor, friend,
Mother’s Rest at Carson Beach in Boston. I want family member, co-worker, or caregiver because
to start by saying how these types of
humbled I was to have catastrophic events will
been considered as dramatically impact
an honoree for this you and those around
amazing cause, the you.
Brain Tumor walk,
2017. I am so grateful Brain Tumor Walk 2017 Being a
for all the volunteers Massachusetts State
and participants in this event. When I was told Trooper for 25 years and working the majority of
about the Boston University Physical Therapy my career in victim-based crimes (murder, sexual
program group volunteering in my honor, my first assault, human trafficking) there is a tendency to
reaction was “what can I say about my experience get jaded, repeatedly seeing the worst that people
that would be helpful?,” knowing that, in fact, do to each other. However my recent medical
there are so many people who are dealing with challenges have, undoubtedly, exposed me to
all types of brain tumors who have died or have it people’s unmatched capacity for kindness. Their
much more difficult than me. genuine caring and thoughtfulness was something
I needed to be reminded of.
So I have actually had two distinct
experiences, one in August, 2014, and the more
recent in July 2017. The 2014 incident was
without warning and resulted in me being taken,
by ambulance to MGH. I was diagnosed with a
non-malignant brain tumor which was removed
and was ultimately released the following Saturday.
Unfortunately they were unable to remove the
entire mass so what followed has been a course of
“watch and wait.”
At my first post-op follow up I was advised
Brain Tumor Walk volunteers with Captain that I had a second brain tumor, also believed to
Downsbrough (back row, center) be a meningiamo so for the next three or so years
My other reaction was I don’t like to be the it was been watch and wait until the past July when
focus of attention, but one thing I have learned I was informed that my second tumor was growing
through both my professional career and through “dangerously “ close to a major blood vessel which
serious medical challenges is that whatever our runs down the center of my head. I needed surgery
experiences have been, we all have something again.
to offer. There is no comparing, no better, no
worse… just different. For all, it is complex and Fast forward to Oct 4, 2017. The surgery
F r en c h·a n d·E le c t r ic·B l ue·W in t er·2017/2018·p a g e·18
