Nathan's Brain Tumor Fund

My name is Justin Arnold. My brother Nathan has a story of a rare brain tumor.

Two weeks ago, my 34-year-old brother, Nathan along with his partner Katy, were working a 9 to 5, preparing dinners, and chasing around their one-year-old daughter Frida. After a routine eye exam, doctors were alerted of swelling in his optic nerve and ophthalmologists referred him for further testing. An MRI revealed a tumor in his brain the size of a tennis ball! This particularly large tumor is called a ventricular central neurocytoma and accounts for 0.5% of all intracranial tumors.

Fortunately, he was able to consult quickly with surgeons at Emory University Hospital and within 1 week he was scheduled for brain surgery with one goal in mind. Total resection. On the day of the surgery, we hugged him at 5 am while nurses rolled him away through the double doors for preoperative prep. During the 5-hour operation, doctors were able to remove 98% of the tumor. The residual tumor was too dangerous to remove, and it was decided the safest course would be to sew him back up with the remainder still inside.

The next few days were very grueling waiting for Nathan to wake up so we could determine his status. ICU nurses came often to check vitals, machines alarmed regularly, and the consistent gasps of the respirator rebounded off the walls and floor.

As of now, he is awake with paralysis on the right side of his body and has lost his ability to speak, eat, walk, and do everyday activities I often take for granted. He communicates with us through hand signals. He has been moved to Shepherd Center where he will continue acute rehab for the next 2 - 4 weeks. While Nathan spends every day retraining his body, both he and Katy have taken a leave of absence from work and Frida remains at home with her grandparents.

After Nathan is able to go home, he will continue physical therapy, speech therapy and occupational therapy. Nathan will also have to undergo MRIs and other exams periodically to monitor the section of tumor the doctors were unable to remove.

What will your donation help with?

The road to recovery is long but we continue to celebrate every small victory.