"Membership has its privileges, but it's a club you don't want to be in,' said Brad Patterson, MSU English/communications senior and cancer survivor.
Patterson is referring to the club for PWD-people with disabilities-that anyone can join, at any time, through many different doors. A good student and talented athlete in high school, Patterson was a sophomore at MSU when he was diagnosed with a brain tumor in February 1994. He was playing basketball with his brothers and some friends in December 1993 when he experienced blurry vision and a lack of coordination.
"It was a gradual process," Patterson said. "My balance was really weakened-I had to hold on with both hands to use stairs or elevators."
When he could no longer eat, he knew it was something serious. "I called my dad on his birthday-the 11 of February. He came and got me on the 12 and we went to Troy Beaumont E.R. because nothing else was open. "I thought I needed new eyeglasses and had the stomach flu," Patterson said.
Doctors ran several tests but could find nothing wrong with his eyes or stomach, so they asked if he'd been experiencing other problems. "I mentioned a problem with balance," Patterson said. So the doctors administered coordination tests. "I did horribly-I couldn't walk a straight line or balance on one foot," Patterson said.
Patterson was diagnosed with a life-threatening malignant tumor on his cerebellum. He had an MRI on Feb. 13, and underwent surgery on the 14. "The doctors said had I not had immediate surgery, I would have died in a week," Patterson said.
Despite this near-death experience, Patterson never thought he would die. "I knew what cancer was, but I never really conceived of dying," Patterson said. Post-brain surgery, Patterson went home and began an eight week chemotherapy session. A week after chemo ended, he began six weeks of radiation therapy. "I got pneumonia at the end of radiation and ended up back in the hospital," Patterson said. When he recovered from the pneumonia, he began 48 weeks-eight six-week cycles-of chemotherapy. He was prescribed massive amounts of steroids to counteract the nausea brought on by chemo.
A platelet disorder in May 1995 caused bleeding into Patterson's lungs. Because of his low platelet count-under 1000-doctors couldn't operate, so they tried aggressive hemoglobin and red blood cell transfusions. "My body kicked back in and started making platelets again," Patterson said.
Using a cane and undergoing physical therapy as well as traveling home to Utica every Friday for chemotherapy sessions, Patterson returned to MSU fall term 1995. OPHS services Patterson has found useful include priority registration and transportation. "Obviously the rides to class are nice," he said. "I haven't needed a lot, truthfully, but there are a lot of people at OPHS who seem to carry a different attitude which I've adopted," Patterson said.
Patterson, a self-identified pessimist, seems incredibly optimistic. Readers may remember his recent series of articles, written while he was at home recuperating from September 1995 hip surgery. While he is currently using crutches as he continues his recuperation, he looks forward to the time he will be able to walk without crutches or a cane. "Being on crutches up here has been an adventure and made me very humble and polite-though I'm always polite," Patterson said. "People have been opening doors for me and doing whatever," he said. "It's a testimonial to the good spirit and qualities that the University brings out." Patterson admits he is enjoying school more now than ever and insists he plans to graduate from MSU. "My No. 1 goal is to graduate from here," Patterson said. "A lot of people suggested I transfer to Oakland. "It's definitely an idea that my parents and I have considered, but I started here and this is where I want to graduate.
Patterson enjoys eating out, going to the mall and attending concerts and athletic events. He is also active in the Undergraduate Communication Association and the MSU Cancer Support Group. "A lot of people walk up and say, 'I could never do what you've done," but you never know what you can do until you're in the situation," Patterson said. "Traditionally I'm a pessimistic person, but I don't know if this experience has made me lose a little bit of confidence. "Sometimes I think I can't, but then I think, 'don't tell me what I can't do.'"
"Just don't give up," Patterson advises. "A lot of times you want to-mentally-but it doesn't do any good."