My Story
Bruce Blount
In 1994, I was an active member of the U.S. Airforce, when I noticed some slight right hand numbness in my fingertips. Various deficiencies progressed over the following year, to the point where I had trouble grasping a pencil or pen, I was always nauseous, walking was difficult, my vision was failing, and I stared at walls a lot. And, I was misdiagnosed by doctors time after time. I suffered a seizure at home, which prompted my seeking out "second opinion" from the doctors! Finally, I was seen by an MD, who recognized my situation as serious; she prescribed an MRI - which confirmed a "mass" in my fourth ventricle. I was ambulanced to Bethesda Naval Hospital that night, and was operated on two days later. 99+% of an ependymoma was removed. After one month, I was transported to Walter Reed Army Medical Center In Washington D.C., where I received radiation treatment. I was a patient there for two more months, where I battled DVT, infections, pneumonia (and the military nurses!) Slowly, I recovered and was sent home.
That was over ten years ago. I will forevermore get annual MRIs (a continual source of anxiety). I am truly blessed (in spite of the mess!) to be here.
My Philosophy:
I feel that I was spared for some reason. Therefore, I have dedicated the remainder of my life to heightening brain tumor awareness. I fully believe that this dreaded disease will continue until the general population demands a cure. And I feel that the better the awareness, the more money will be donated to finding a cure. I have stopped surprised pedestrians on the sidewalk, and spoken about brain tumors to them. This is what it will take. We need to start from the ground up. There is much work to do...
That's my story
Smile pretty...Say Cheese while I take your picture!
This photo is from April 2006 brain tumor meeting. In it (from left to right), is co-facilitator Wendy Berk (social worker), Bruce, Matthew Fullerton (18 year GBM survivor & Brain Trust board member), and Co-facilitator Nancy Conn-Levin (9 year meningioma survivor), meningioma list facilitator (Brain Trust), and Brain Trust board member.