Pat’s Story

More than a year after receiving brain surgery at Penn Medicine, former CBS3 news anchor, Pat Ciarrocchi, recounts her experience.

Putting my name, and the words “brain surgery and MY Penn Medicine neurosurgeon'' in the same sentence still feels incredulous, even more than a year “post-op.”

I was a Penn Medicine brain surgery patient. I am also a woman thriving now with a healthy brain. “A grape-sized growth” had brought me to the Penn operating room of Neurosurgeon Dr. Donald O’Rourke. Learning that a growth – a possible brain tumor – existed in my brain was a shockingly, unexpected discovery, in October 2020. My gratitude for MY care – Penn Medicine care – leads me to share my story.

In the Fall of 2020, a hearing deficit in my left ear – from years of wearing a TV audio earpiece – had gotten my attention. “I probably need a hearing aid,” I said to husband after apologizing for the TV volume being so loud, again. My long-time Penn Medicine primary care doctor, Dr. Michael Cirigliano “heard” me and referred me to Penn ENT for an evaluation.

On October 1, I received an MRI of my head, with special attention given to nerves and tissue of my auditory canals. Within 20 minutes of returning home, the otolaryngologist, Dr. Douglas Bigelow, called to report there were no issues with my auditory canals. I felt relieved for a moment. However, the ENT explained that the neuroradiologist who read my MRI, Dr. Deepak Sampathu, noticed a growth in the area of my right temporal lobe, which he believed to be a brain tumor. That is knee-buckling to hear.

Our primary care “quarterback,” Dr. Cirigliano, then, took the lead. We arranged a first meeting with Dr. Donald O’Rourke – a Penn Medicine neurosurgeon. Because of the COVID-19 Pandemic, that meeting was a telemedicine appointment.

With my MRI scans in front of him, Dr. O’Rourke gave me hope. His expertise gave him an insight that others might not have. From his read, I most likely didn’t have a glioblastoma, a brain cancer. But he said it would take brain surgery and follow up pathology studies to know for sure. Because the tumor was on the right side of my brain, my speech, my mobility, my cognition would not be affected.

I heard "the headline" within his analysis. Hope. This growth could be handled. I would be whole. The words still ring in my head.

Next? My MRIs were brought before the entire Penn Medicine Tumor Board. Forty brain surgery experts reviewed the scans to determine if surgery was the best course of action.

The tumor’s rate of growth was unknown. The brain health expertise of the Board lead to a recommendation made without one dissenting vote. This tumor of unknown origin “could” grow exponentially, if it was not removed. Why risk that? Brain surgery was the prudent course of action. I thought, all these great brains were weighing in on mine. That gave me complete confidence to move forward quickly. I had no doubt I was making the right choice.

My care team then expanded.

Dr. O’Rourke – who has performed over 5,000 craniotomies – works with a specialized team who carried me through the scheduling, the explanation of the surgery, the prep, and ultimately, the care inside and outside the operating room. MRI technicians kept me calm through an 80-minute MRI to produce the detailed sequences that would guide Dr. O’Rourke’s microsurgery. On October 15, I would be in expert hands. Again, I had no doubt.

I woke from a five-hour surgery feeling the gentle hands of my intensive care nurses who reassured me that all had gone well. Now it was time to rest and heal.

Looking in a mirror, the surprising sight was lifting my hair and seeing a giant shaved patch, and counting the 35 staples that closed my scalp where Dr. O’Rourke had “opened the window on my skull” to access my brain. I felt like a Princess Warrior.

Pat and her great nieces

On October 22 – my “pathology day” – I received the call from Dr. O’Rourke’s Physician Assistant, Elizabeth Heisler. “Pat, you’re really fine. No cancer. No other treatment necessary. Now, go live your life.” Her words still ring in my head. Tears of gratitude streamed down my face.

I am humbled to report, more than a year after surgery, I am really well. I am fully recovered. I am living and loving my life.

The hearing loss that led to the discovery of my brain tumor was found to be unrelated to the tumor. However, I share my deepest gratitude that the “gliosis” – the scientific name for that grape-sized growth – was found before causing me any harm.

Even though my story may sound like “special treatment,” I didn’t get “special treatment.” I got Penn Medicine treatment.

My life is worth Penn Medicine. So is yours.