Dylan's second brain surgery
Help Dylan and his family through his second brain surgery and recovery.
Waikato
Hi everyone (:
My name is Dylan Bowman, I am 23 years old and on Monday the 13th of May I will be having my second brain surgery.
2 years ago (21 years old) i was diagnosed with Ependymoma (a rare, incurable, aggressive, cancerous, tumor of usually the spine or brain stem, mine had grown in a unknown place of the brain where it wouldn't usually grow, in the right-parietal lobe) Quite literally shortening my life. Due to the unknown growth location, my neurologists/neurosurgeons couldn't give me a definite on how long I had left.
Previous to that I was mountain biking, motorbike riding, swimming and working full time as a chef when my left side gave up which had me sent to hospital.
I had surgery and radiation treatment to prolong the worst outcome.
FAST FORWARD 2 YEARS I have been working full time at Duck Island Ice Cream making delicious ice-cream, and part time at Create Video, flying drones and creating awesome video content.
I've recently joined the AYA (adolescent young adult) Cancer Network Advisory Group, to help advance the care for young adults through their journey with Cancer.
February 2019 I had a routine MRI scan, the results came back with a small mass that had grown in the bed of my last surgery. At this point, we didn't know what it is or when it grew. It could either be another tumor or a scar from radiation. As it was so small my neurosurgeon and I made the decision to wait and see if it grows, meaning people who need surgery right away could have it and I wouldn't waste the surgeons time.
April 2019 I had a follow up scan and it has grown so now I'm having another surgery to remove the mass.
I'm living away from home, making the most of what I've got, and what I have to give.
My goals after surgery are to eventually work full time again, get back on the bike and enjoy life as a young adult.
My previous Give a little from my first surgery raised $11,101. These funds helped with travel costs to bring my family from far and wide to visit. Also with Physiotherapy, treatment and helping me get back up on my feet.
Here's a link to the previous Give a little, https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/dylanbowman
Use of funds
The use of generous funds raised will go towards supporting my family and I through this hard time, treatment, travel costs and therapy.
Latest update
Radiation 27 June 2019
Hi all, I would personally like to thank everyone on behalf of my family and I, we are very grateful of all of your kind donations helping myself and my family be together through this cancer journey.
Last week I finished my Stereotactic radiotherapy which lasted 1 week, from that I have struggled with sleeping and often waking 4 to 5 times through out the night and eventually waking up around 4am and being unable to sleep again.
My Strength is down and fatigue taking its toll slowly on my body.
Because of the radiation my left side has become numb a couple of times and we are hoping that it's only after effects from radiation and not permanent neurological problems.
My next MRI is just under 1 month away.
Other than that I'm going well and have been enjoying time with family and friends.
Photo is of my radiation mask and sunglasses to make it fun.
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