After a sequence of inexplicable seizures in late 2023, the actor Barton Cowperthwaite, recognized for his position in Netflix’s Tiny Fairly Issues, was identified with an oligodendroglioma, a slow-growing mind tumor that could be a type of glioma. Oligodendrogliomas are uncommon—accounting for round 1,100 of latest mind tumors identified in the US annually—and happen most frequently in males between the ages of 20 and 40. The seizures Cowperthwaite skilled are one of many situation’s hallmark signs.
The classically skilled ballet dancer selected NYU Langone for his therapy after consulting with a number of New York Metropolis medical doctors and hospitals. On November 21, 2023, John G. Golfinos, MD, co-director of the Mind and Backbone Tumor Heart at NYU Langone’s Perlmutter Most cancers Heart; Daniel A. Orringer, MD; and their neurosurgical workforce carried out a fragile five-hour surgical procedure to take away a malignant, lemon-sized mass from Cowperthwaite’s proper frontal lobe. “One of many causes we determined to go together with NYU Langone is the intraoperative MRI expertise, and it ended up saving the day,” says Cowperthwaite.
“At a sure level Dr. Golfinos and Dr. Orringer got here out and instructed my household, ‘We’re 99.5 p.c certain that we received the entire thing. He’s simply within the intraoperative MRI proper now.’ However the MRI revealed that there was a tiny piece of tumor hiding below a burst blood vessel. Dr. Golfinos—who was on his method dwelling—got here again, scrubbed again in, and eliminated the remainder of the tumor.”
Practically three weeks later, the medical doctors carried out a second surgical procedure to deal with an an infection.
In the present day, six months after these surgical procedures, Cowperthwaite is planning a June wedding ceremony to his fiancée, Sophie, and performing eight occasions every week within the musical The Outsiders on Broadway. Now again at 100%, the 31-year-old displays on a number of the classes he realized about dwelling by means of the onset of a sudden and critical sickness.
Lesson No. 1: Don’t Go It Alone
“My profession has been spent primarily as a classical ballet dancer, and extra lately I moved into performing. When the seizures began, it was actually complicated. I’ve been the epitome of well being my total life. I’m not somebody who even goes to the physician, so I’m not practiced at asking health-related questions. I used to be extraordinarily lucky to have a companion who has higher instincts on the subject of asking these necessary questions.”
Lesson No. 2: Be Optimistic—and Keep Away from Google
“After [I chose NYU Langone for my treatment], I had every week and a half to wrap my head round the truth that I used to be going to get mind surgical procedure. That mentioned, I’m naturally optimistic—even after I used to be instructed I had a tumor. Having the ability to lean on Sophie, her mother and father, and my household allowed me to enter an intense day with confidence, feeling strongly that I used to be going to be OK. I additionally discovered it extraordinarily priceless for my psychological well being to keep away from Google.”
Lesson No. 3: Hurrying Doesn’t All the time Get You There Sooner
“I’ve had this starvation to be an lively particular person my total life. To have one thing that required me to cease and be nonetheless was surprising. After the primary surgical procedure, I used to be keen to come back again as shortly as doable. However then I had an an infection and wanted a second surgical procedure. And that’s after I was like, OK, right here’s the lesson: Sit, and be affected person. Don’t push too arduous.
After the second surgical procedure, I used to be doing IV antibiotics at dwelling and would sit, learn, and visualize my physique therapeutic and eliminating the an infection. It occurred to me that hurrying doesn’t at all times get you there sooner. And persistence shouldn’t be one thing that you just study after which have mastery over. It’s like a muscle; you must train it.”
Lesson No. 4: Discover the Present Inside the Problem
“Unwelcome information can find yourself turning into one thing good. I’d say that there’s normally, if not at all times, a present within the problem. However it’s not at all times apparent; you could have to essentially seek for it.
It’s simple to take one thing at face worth and say, ‘Oh, I’ve been identified with this horrible factor,’ and give attention to that. However I very a lot discovered a silver lining sharing my journey on-line brazenly and truthfully. The outpouring of affection and help has been large and overwhelmingly useful.”
