UC Brain Tumor Center

234 Goodman Street, Cincinnati, Ohio 45219 | (866) 941-UCNI (8264)

Hope Stories

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Alisha's Story: Acoustic Neuroma

There was a time in Alisha’s young life when she was angry at her fate and bitter about her life. “I wondered why this had to happen to me,” she said. Her outlook has changed to one of eagerness and optimism. 

Ameer's Story: Pituitary Tumor

Ameer’s friends noticed the weight loss, and they kept asking him about it. Was he OK? Ameer wasn’t concerned at first. Then he began to notice that he couldn’t see people approaching him from the side. His peripheral vision was deteriorating. 

Blake's Story: Medulloblastoma

Blake knew he was in the right hands the moment he saw the surgeon’s wrists. Dr. John M. Tew, Blake’s neurosurgeon, was wearing one of Lance Armstrong’s yellow LiveStrong cancer bracelets. So was Blake. Dr. Tew, who was also sporting a Tour de France lanyard, was an avid cyclist. So was Blake.

Brian's Story: Meningioma

“Carefree” is the word Brian uses to describe his life back then.


He was 39 years old, happily married and the father of three children under the age of 5.


“Life was busy, but that felt normal,” he says, reflecting. “The only lingering health issue was consistent headaches for a period of two-plus years.”

Charlene's Story: 7 Years with Glioblastoma

Charlene marked her seven-year survivorship of glioblastoma multiforme in March 2012 with two significant events. The first was the return of her tumor, a difficult cancer whose potency can never be overestimated. The second was the successful surgical removal of the recurrent cancer by her University of Cincinnati Brain Tumor Center team.

Doc's Story: Metastatic Brain Tumors

First there were headaches. Bad ones. Migraines, probably. Then, one day in mid-May, 2010, his knee, foot and arm went numb on his left side. Darrell “Doc” Rodgers, the 700WLW radio personality, feared he was having a stroke.

Jerry’s Story: Spinal Tumor

On an ordinary day in February 2009, John M. Tew, MD, got one of the true surprises of his career. He was seeing patients in his Mayfield Clinic office on the University of Cincinnati medical campus when an unexpected guest arrived. Jerry, a retired law enforcement officer from rural Kentucky, walked into Dr. Tew’s office to say thank you.

Joe’s Story: Oligodendroglioma

Joe calls it a miracle and a gift from “a higher power.” Others might call it a fortuitous turn of fate. Either way, Joe’s experience embodies a reversal of fortune that is both wonderful and startling. Once a man with a brain tumor and little hope, Joe is today cancer-free and buoyed by a favorable prognosis.

John’s Story: Gliobastoma

John, a retired painter and carpenter, is a tall, solidly built man with a strong inclination toward getting things done. A former Vista volunteer who was equally comfortable running a food co-op in an underserved neighborhood or standing near the top of a tall ladder, he is a natural at lending a hand to people who can’t quite make it on their own.

Kevin's Story: Acoustic Neuroma

Kevin was in his mid-40s when he began to notice that he wasn’t hearing quite as well as in the past. But the change was gradual, so he didn’t worry about it. A few years went by, and the hearing loss became more noticeable. "I started having problems hearing on the phone," he recalled. "Words were sometimes distorted. It was very weird."

Sandra’s Story Glioma

Sandra (Sandy) is a smiling, breathing reminder that hope exists for patients with even the most challenging type of brain tumors.

Thirteen years ago, when Sandy was first told that she had six months to live, she stared back blankly at her doctor. “Who are they talking about?” she remembers thinking. “That isn’t me. I’m not going anywhere. I was determined to live.”