Archive
Man's open-brain surgery part of National Geographic documentary
NORMAN, Okla. — Brandon Carson had his immediate future all figured out. After getting his high school diploma, he’d join the U.S. Navy, work in Special Forces and travel the world. The Navy liked his spirit and patriotism but was unsure about his medical fitness.
They’d found something that didn’t look good. Local doctors confirmed the diagnosis — a brain tumor — and weren’t optimistic. Seizures started coming. Then, he fell at work.
“I didn’t think it was anything until I had a seizure and I couldn’t speak,” he said. “I’d always been healthy.”
The tumor, nestled in Brandon’s brain, had to come out and the family was down to few options.
As fate would have it, Brandon’s mother, Bobbi Ottis, had come to know a group of UCLA physicians many years earlier when she worked in Keystone, Colo. She remembered one of the doctors and contacted her.
“I didn’t even know if she was still alive or if she would remember me,” Ottis said. “She put me in touch with Dr. Liau.”
UCLA neurosurgeon Dr. Linda Liau and her team removed most of the tumor from Brandon’s brain in a December surgery. During the procedure, a psychologist kept Brandon awake and drilled him with flashcards so the surgeon could map his brain and carefully avoid cutting into areas that control speech.
Brandon’s brain and the rest of him will be part of a National Geographic Channel documentary to be aired 7 p.m. Eastern Time Oct. 21. Incredible Human Machine follows the six-hour surgery. He’s featured in two parts of the two-hour program.
Brandon is excited that his participation in the documentary may help others. He has viewed the program but don’t expect a watch party that evening.
“When I woke up, I was really scared because I didn’t know who I was or where I was,” Carson said. He was frustrated as his speech was slow to return. He couldn’t hardly talk to his father, Dan.
He lost some function on his right side and had many weeks of therapy. Back home, a blood clot slowed his progress for several weeks. Now, he works out each day at a home gym, thanks to help from his family and friend Alex Halkins.His goal is to play soccer, a sport that he excelled in as a youth.
“It’s amazing to me what kind of stuff I’m getting back. At first, I couldn’t walk or talk. It’s much better now,” Carson said.
When the surgery was imminent, the Norman community rallied to raise money and support the family. Ottis was most thankful for support from All Saints Catholic School, Hall of Frame, co-worker Terry Kilgore, local soccer associations, her employer, the Dillard Group Real Estate and husband Dan’s employer, Norman Regional Hospital’s cancer management center, its physicians and staff.
Ottis says the illness has challenged the family but she has learned much from it. “I was lucky to remember this group of doctors,” she said. “I tell people facing similar situations don’t stop looking. There are resources out there. If a doctor tells you there’s nothing you can do, keep looking.”
Brandon has some advice, too. For young adults who are seeingly healthy and bulletproof, get your health checked early and often. “I think someone my age needs to get continuous checkups no matter how healthy they seem.”
He’s also proud and thankful of the support from Norman families, schools and businesses.
“It’s a miracle to see how Norman comes together if someone is in need,” he said.
Andy Rieger writes for The Norman (Okla.) Transcript.
