JSF_Dreamer
Busted Head
Hey guys. This is my farewell. I passed out during PT one morning at OCS with a 107.5 degree temperature. Through the course of them attempting to find out what caused my temperature to be so ridiculous, they did a scan of my head and found two masses. They advised that both be taken out and I agreed. In hindsight, perhaps I should have waited until I finished OCS training, but having had one episode already, I feared another next time I tried to PT.
They sent me down to Walter Reed/Bethesda where they did more tests and finally my surgery. They had to completely had to remove my pinile gland as there was a cyst that had essentially destroyed it. And I had a benign tumor in my cerebellum. At this point I figured that ended my chances of being pilot (my chosen designator), but I still had a long Naval career ahead of me.
Part of the issues with surgery like this is that your spinal fluid can leak out of the surgery sight and under the surrounding skin. For about two weeks, mine kept leaking under the skin and building pressure. They had to manually drain the fluid with a syringe until finally my body was able to handle it. After a couple days in the hospital handling the fluid on my own, they released me.
I was fine outside of the hospital and feeling great for 3 days. Then on the morning of the third day, I woke up and the fluid and pressure had built up again in my head so bad that I couldn't stand. My wife and I were staying at the Fisher house and we had to call an ambulance to get me to the hospital where they again had to manually drain the fluid.
They said if I had another problem, then I needed to be readmitted. Later that day it happened again and I went back into the hospital. For some reason my body was no longer handling the fluid on its own. They decided to put in a lumbar drain (this was my third lumbar puncture and something I hope that you guys don't have to go through... especially when it takes 5-6 attempts for each one) and then try to wean me off of it slowly after about 5 days to see if my body could handle it.
Well the time came and went and my body had not improved at all from the time I came in again to the time they tried to wean me off. At this point the doctor said my only real choice was to put in a ventricular shunt (a tube that is internal and goes from my brain down to my abdomen to get rid of any excess spinal fluid my body can't tolerate). After 2 months in the hospital I reluctantly agreed. The day before surgery I was informed that the shunt would end my Naval career as it is disqualifying and there is no waiver.
I expected it, but it was still heart-breaking. It was one thing to not be a pilot, but to not be in the Navy at all?? This was what I had planned on for my entire life and it was taken from me by something I couldn't control in the least.
SO that's the story. As much as I hate the fact that I'm soon to be out of the Navy, I do have to look at the bright side. The navy footed two brain surgeries and two months of recovery inside a hospital. Also, this episode happened during a PT session and not after I was flying a plane (possibly with passengers), in which the result could have been the end of my life and the life of those entrusted to my care. The Navy has done one hell of a job taking care of its own and I am eternally thankful. Of note: the Fisher House where my wife and son (who had his third birthday, met the first lady, the cake boss, and montel williams) was such a blessing to us I can't begin to express it. It's an amazing thing they do for our service people.
In closing, I sincerely regret that I won't be able to join you all in defense of our country. I doubt I'll be on here much after this as it is still a bit hard getting on here and reading about all the stuff I was looking forward to. Lol, but then I do live in pensacola and I see them flying the trainers allll dayyy lonngggg. Oh well, I will get over it. To you all I wish you the best and safety in all of your assignments. Take Care.
(sorry about the book... it's been a long few months)
They sent me down to Walter Reed/Bethesda where they did more tests and finally my surgery. They had to completely had to remove my pinile gland as there was a cyst that had essentially destroyed it. And I had a benign tumor in my cerebellum. At this point I figured that ended my chances of being pilot (my chosen designator), but I still had a long Naval career ahead of me.
Part of the issues with surgery like this is that your spinal fluid can leak out of the surgery sight and under the surrounding skin. For about two weeks, mine kept leaking under the skin and building pressure. They had to manually drain the fluid with a syringe until finally my body was able to handle it. After a couple days in the hospital handling the fluid on my own, they released me.
I was fine outside of the hospital and feeling great for 3 days. Then on the morning of the third day, I woke up and the fluid and pressure had built up again in my head so bad that I couldn't stand. My wife and I were staying at the Fisher house and we had to call an ambulance to get me to the hospital where they again had to manually drain the fluid.
They said if I had another problem, then I needed to be readmitted. Later that day it happened again and I went back into the hospital. For some reason my body was no longer handling the fluid on its own. They decided to put in a lumbar drain (this was my third lumbar puncture and something I hope that you guys don't have to go through... especially when it takes 5-6 attempts for each one) and then try to wean me off of it slowly after about 5 days to see if my body could handle it.
Well the time came and went and my body had not improved at all from the time I came in again to the time they tried to wean me off. At this point the doctor said my only real choice was to put in a ventricular shunt (a tube that is internal and goes from my brain down to my abdomen to get rid of any excess spinal fluid my body can't tolerate). After 2 months in the hospital I reluctantly agreed. The day before surgery I was informed that the shunt would end my Naval career as it is disqualifying and there is no waiver.
I expected it, but it was still heart-breaking. It was one thing to not be a pilot, but to not be in the Navy at all?? This was what I had planned on for my entire life and it was taken from me by something I couldn't control in the least.
SO that's the story. As much as I hate the fact that I'm soon to be out of the Navy, I do have to look at the bright side. The navy footed two brain surgeries and two months of recovery inside a hospital. Also, this episode happened during a PT session and not after I was flying a plane (possibly with passengers), in which the result could have been the end of my life and the life of those entrusted to my care. The Navy has done one hell of a job taking care of its own and I am eternally thankful. Of note: the Fisher House where my wife and son (who had his third birthday, met the first lady, the cake boss, and montel williams) was such a blessing to us I can't begin to express it. It's an amazing thing they do for our service people.
In closing, I sincerely regret that I won't be able to join you all in defense of our country. I doubt I'll be on here much after this as it is still a bit hard getting on here and reading about all the stuff I was looking forward to. Lol, but then I do live in pensacola and I see them flying the trainers allll dayyy lonngggg. Oh well, I will get over it. To you all I wish you the best and safety in all of your assignments. Take Care.
(sorry about the book... it's been a long few months)
