Anthony Galvez's experience with brain tumor diagnosis and recovery

Personal Perspectives on Living With a Disability

The objective of this work is to examine a work in writing that provides a first-hand perspective on the psychosocial issues involved with living with a disability of a disabling illness. personal perspectives on living with a disability. Questions addressed in this study include those as follows: (1) what type of disability or disabling illness did the person have? (2) provide a description of how this disability/illness affects the individual's perceptions of his/her identity? (3) What forms of prejudice or discrimination did he/she encounter from others? How did he/she cope with it? And (4) What did you learn from this individual's account of his/her experience that would help you as a therapist in working with another individual who has a similar illness or disability?

Type of Disability or Illness

Anthony Galvez relates that in September 2005 he was diagnosed with a "non-malignant brain tumor the size of a golf ball" on his brainstem and cerebellum." (2010) Galvez reports that he had to undergo surgery for removal of the brain tumor and as well took radiation therapy and a long stint of outpatient physical and occupational therapy following the surgery. Galvez reports that he is "a walking contradiction" stating that generally, he does not enjoy the pursuit of reading, but surprisingly, he wrote a book.

Galvez reports that he is "a jock" however, he states that he has always enjoyed writing. It is somewhat ironic that Galvez is a physical therapist who experienced a reversal to being a patient for more than a year. Galvez states that as a physical therapist, it is his job to "help people regain their function in everyday life" but that he had now been "on the receiving end of this relationship." (2010) The nerves at risk in the surgery Galvez underwent include the trigeminal nerve, the facial nerve, and the auditory nerve. (2010) Galvez reports being in the Intensive Care Unit for eight days and to have been hospitalized for five weeks with outpatient lasting more than a year.

II. Decryption of the Impacts of the Disability on the Individual's Perceptions of Identity

Galvez states that following brain surgery that he was "left with no coordination, double vision, and an extremely weak voice, and the inability to walk." (2010) As Galvez continues his account of the process leading up to surgery he ponders on how he will be "buck naked in front of a bunch of people" and thinks about the Foley catheter that will have to be inserted hoping he will be knocked out at the time. Galvez also thinks about having his head shaved hoping that his hair will grow back as it should and he ponders his most certain loss of hearing following surgery to remove the brain tumor.

IV. What Was Learned from This Individuals' Account of Their Experience?

Galvez states that the "common denominators for a successful rehab process are a positive attitude, a good sense of humor and a strong support system." (2010) Galvez learned that there are five symptoms that point to a potential diagnosis of a brain tumor including: (1) headache; (2) dizziness; (3) nausea; (4) facial/tongue numbness -- frequently biting your tongue, lip, or cheek; and (5) loss of appetite. (Galvez, ) Lessons Galvez states that he learned are the following lessons: (1) tell the doctor everything; (2) do your homework; (3) write down a list of questions for the doctor; (4) bring at least one other calm person with you to the doctor's office to take notes; and (5) don't bring anyone with you who might get too emotional. (2010)

The list that Galvez prepared for his doctor upon finding out that he had a brain tumor included the questions asking: (1) what is the prognosis? (2) what specific procedures can be done to take this thing out? (3) how common is this tumor? (4) How did it grow so big? (5) How long is the rehab? What kind of lingering effect should I expect? Timelines? (6) Is there a chance for relapse? Is there anything I can do to prevent it happening again? (7) What caused the tumor? (8) Am I now at risk for new tumors to pop up? (9) When can a procedure be scheduled? (2010)

Galvez learned a great many things from his experience and among these is learning how it feels to be in the position of the patient of who on the receiving end of surgery and treatment in physical therapy. Galvez gained the view of patients as they undergo physical therapy and understood how scared and how tired patients become during physical therapy sessions.

Galvez specifically states:

"The whole experience made me realize that no two people will experience things the same way." (2010)

Galvez goes through the normal loss of hair from radiation and graduates from the wheelchair to a walking cane and relates the challenges of getting around in a crowd. Galvez ends his story relating that he is now a physical therapist practicing "for a little more than eleven years" and working in a San Diego hospital. Galvez relates the story of a patient who he is working with and how his experience as a patient assist him in working with his patients. Galvez gained a great deal of empathy and understanding of his patients in terms of what they are feeling and the challenges that they face as they attempt to regain use of their physical abilities following injury or surgery.

Summary and Conclusion

The story related by Galvez (2010) highlights the importance of the understanding that the physical therapist needs to effectively work with their patients who are attempting to overcome physical challenges following injury or surgery. This is important not just in the field of physical therapy but in fact it important in all fields of practice across all sectors and professions. Empathy is particularly important for the individual engaged in a career in the area of health care service delivery.