Brain Surgery Experience

Brain Surgery Experience

Collin Leong. Feb 15 2020

 I. Background

In April 2016, during an MRI scan of a separate medical problem I had called Myasthenia Gravis (MG), the Gleneagles Hospital accidentally found a 4.1 Centimeter benign tumour in my brain. It is not cancerous. They called it a glioma tumour. 

As the tumour is over the speech processing part of the brain, there was a risk in taking immediate surgery. The neurologist recommended we monitor it with MRI on a yearly basis, to see how aggressive it would grow.

By November 2019, the tumour had grown to 5.7 Centimeters. I had procrastinated with the surgery as I wasn’t comfortable with the private hospital.

In December 2019, I visited a friend who was diagnosed with Parkinson decease. His wife told me I can get a second opinion at the National Neuroscience Institute (NNI) at Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH).

After consulting NNI, I decided to go ahead with the surgery, as I felt the neurologists there were a lot more considerate and careful on the recovery of their patients.

MRI image of the brain tumour in November 2019

II. Pre-Ops Evaluation

As a pre-ops investigation, they performed a “functional MRI”, where I had to recognize objects and move my arms in order to find which part of my brain the cognitive and motor functions use.

The concern was that my verbal processing is right in the middle of the brain tumour. The brain tumour is not a foreign object, but part of my brain that had gone wrong. Any removal of processing function within the tumour will likely affect the faculty.

The red spots show where my verb functions are, which is in the centre of the tumour. 

My Neurosurgeon (Dr Sharon Low) decided to do an “awake” surgery, where they can ask me questions about naming objects and verbs while doing the operation. If I am found not cognitive, they would stop removing that part of the brain

At this time, the Wuhan Corona Virus crisis in Singapore was at a critical condition. They restricted visitors to the hospital. We had a special chat group to help me communicate any urgent news to my existing Whatsapp groups and to ask for prayers.

My Pre-Ops Visitors:

My sister, Waina, took one week leave from her work place in Kazakhstan, helped with communicating with the doctors.

My friend, Aaron, whom I know during my Canadian school days, was the second point of contact.

Ready for the surgery!

III. The Operation

The surgery took place on 6th February 2020, for about 5 hours. Though drowsy, I was able to answer most of the verbal questions accurately.  However, the surgeon did not remove the cells near the speech processing part of the brain.   

Thereafter I was in High Dependency ward for about 24 hours for them to monitor my vital signs. 

IV. Post-Ops MRI

Before they moved me to the General Ward, they scanned me again with MRI to look at the results of the surgery. Below is the MRI scan. Part of my brain was missing! :(

V. Normal Ward Stay

I felt fine during my next 5 days stay at the normal ward. I was more alert on the first day, but started to feel more mentally fatigue thereafter. I guess the adrenaline had run out. 

I discovered I could not read, write, or even watch a short movie for more than 45 minutes. I get confused and just have to close my eyes for a couple of hours. In fact, I discovered my math are all screwed up. :p

The therapists said it was normal, and it will take me some time to resume the “normal focus” with my brain, and even to go back to work. For now, I just have to change activities every 30 to 60 minutes to refresh the mind. 

I am alive because God took care of me, and I am sure He was touched in His heart with the prayers and love you all had shared for me.  

CEFC Pastor, Edmund Wong

My Cell Group Leader, Edward Lee.

June, Edward's wife.

Natalie, my beloved daughter!

Food not that bad in this hospital! 

 VI. Discharge From TTSH

After 5 days at the Normal Ward, I was discharged from the hospital on 12th February 2020! Praise be to the Grace of God!

This was my bed neighbour, Steven, a Taoist. He was there for slip-disk operation. His recovery will take some time, and they did not let him move around the whole time I was there. Very patient man. Had the opportunity to pray for him for 3 days. He has a daughter and a Christian son.

Aaron helping me with my belongings, and gave me a hoodie to hide my scars!

VII. Recovery Plan (as of 12th Feb 2020)

The future process of recovery will involve the following:

About 5 weeks rest for the mind/body to heal. There will be mental/ physical therapy sessions for me to regain focus.

After 5 weeks, I will have to go for chemotherapy (Oral) and radiotherapy (radiation). It will be every day for 6 weeks, except on weekends. My hair will need to be shaved. 

Other than the normal hair loss, impact on hormone, I will have some long term side effects such as memory loss and deterioration of the eye. The effect is dependent on the individual. 

All in all, it appears I may not be able to perform normal work for 3 months, assuming there are no severe effect on the radiotherapy.

If there are other significant happenings, I shall continue to update this blog. Meanwhile, I shall continue to appreciate your prayers for my recovery, a minimal impact of the radiotherapy, and that my company will have the generosity to allow me a gradual resumption of my work.


VII. Recovery Period

Bandage Removal on 20th February 2020