Double the issue
It was a beautiful fall day; the sun was shining, the birds were chirping, and it was perfect for golf. As always, I was eager to play, but when I prepared to hit my first shot, something was off: I was seeing two golf balls. I thought it was weird, but I tried to ignore it and focus on my game. I quickly hit my first shot, and it didn’t turn out so bad. As I approached the second shot, I took my stance and peaked up at the flag to check my alignment. This time I was seeing two flags. I went through my same routine and made sure to hit my second shot onto the green. Once again, I took my stance over the ball, peaked up to check my alignment, and saw two holes side-by-side. I had to step off to see which was the “real” hole I was aiming for. I played the rest of my practice round closing my right eye to cope with the double vision. The double vision continued all night, but I thought maybe I’d sleep it off. 
Prior to the double vision, I had battled terrible stomach issues and headaches. As tough as it was, I had learned to put those symptoms aside and enjoy life the best I could. But coupled with the double vision, I knew that something was terribly wrong. I did my best to get through the day – vomiting, seeing double, and suffering a headache – but eventually had to go home and lie down. My mother, realizing the severity of my symptoms, called my ophthalmologist, who was able to see me that afternoon. My ophthalmologist was concerned by my symptoms and examined me. He found immense swelling on my optic nerve. An MRI of my brain was scheduled for the following day. After a two-year battle with stomach problems and eventually double vision, I was finally referred to a place I felt confident with.
Finding Penn
After discovering a grade II ependymoma in the fourth ventricle, my ophthalmologist referred me to Dr. Donald O’Rourke, a neurosurgeon at Penn Medicine. Within a few minutes of meeting me and my family, he was confident that the ependymoma was the cause of my problems for the past several years. Dr. O’Rourke informed us that brain surgery was the only option; he recommended it be completed in the next two days. Brain surgery! I was so nervous, but relieved at the same time to finally have an answer and a plan. The confidence and poise that Dr. O’Rourke and his team showed assured me that I would be OK and onto a better, healthier life.
The surgery lasted for nearly eight hours. When I saw Dr. O’Rourke the next morning he said, “It was 100% removed, Sean. I got it all.” My family and I shared a lot of love for each other and Dr. O’Rourke; we were sad that I had to go through it, but relieved that my suffering was coming to an end. Once again, my family and I experienced an immense amount of joy and relief.
The will to recover
With surgery completed and feeling healthy, I was excited to get back to my normal routine and be a regular 19-year-old again. But, the next several months consisted of acute rehabilitation followed by 30 treatments of proton radiation therapy. I spent a little over four weeks in a rehabilitation center to improve my balance and coordination, regain my strength, and complete eye muscle therapy. The proton radiation provided at Penn is a precise radiation therapy that targets the affected area on the brain. I had this done to ensure that the tumor would never grow back. Dr. O’Rourke told me that the tumor had been growing for at least two years, which is why I was experiencing nausea, vomiting and double vision. The brain – being the intelligent organ that it is – has a way of compensating. So, because my body was trying to live with the tumor for those two years, my double vision was actually worse after surgery. Not only this, but the ependymoma was in between my brain stem and cerebellum, key parts of the brain for balance, coordination, and some stomach functions. It was all starting to make sense!
Staying the course
After my surgery, many of my doctors did not think I would be able to golf with my lack of balance and constant double vision. But my motivation kicked in and I returned to the Rutgers-Camden golf team the following fall. I never thought a healthcare organization could have such a positive influence on my life. For years I bounced between hospitals and doctors, so it was hard to have high expectations. The Penn team exceeded my expectations with their intelligent, yet pleasant, care. Everyone went above and beyond by offering their advanced treatment options, and I’m not sure I would have received that same offering and level of care at another hospital. Penn Medicine saved my life, and that is something I will hold with me forever.
Seeing the other side
Because I received such exceptional care at Penn, I wanted to be a part of life-changing moments like I had received. I applied to become an intern in the marketing department at Penn Medicine. Fortunately, I was accepted to be a part of the department.
I have gained incredible experience throughout my internship. I have had the opportunity to work with various service lines, including the one closest to my heart: neurosciences. I have helped write and edit blog posts, and created brochures and info-graphics. I have also assisted the heart and vascular and musculoskeletal service lines by making edits to video campaigns and creating a promotional strategy brief.
As my internship continued, I continued to grow and learn my potential in this industry. Now that I have finished school, I have recently been promoted to a Physician Outreach Assistant. I continue to visit Dr. O’Rourke for follow up appointments. But now, in addition to being a patient, I take pride in knowing that I work among such remarkable physicians. I even joked at one of my recent appointments “you work for me now.” He laughed and smiled and said I was a great addition to the Penn family.