Sue Gets Her Life Back After Tumor Removal

First, it was the checkbook.

Sue Jameson, 84, from Chillicothe, Missouri, was meticulous in balancing the family finances. One day in 2020, her husband, Douglas, noticed she hadn’t made any entries for several months.

He then started to notice Sue’s recurring memory issues, which came with a scary moment when she fell asleep while driving. She drove off the road but regained consciousness before safely driving back home. While relieved, her family had growing concerns. 

During this time, Sue suffered from respiratory problems, a worsening cough, and vision issues. In October 2023, Sue collapsed in her home. Douglas called the ambulance, which took her to Hedrick Medical Center.

A CT scan revealed a large non-cancerous mass growing from the lining around Sue’s brain, which explained many of the issues she had been having. The tumor, known as a meningioma, was hemorrhaging and causing brain swelling, prompting immediate medical attention.

“I just assumed that was the end,” Douglas says. 

For the highest-quality immediate neuro-oncology care, Sue’s doctors sent her to Saint Luke’s Hospital of Kansas City.

A Positive Outcome

When they arrived, Sue and Douglas met with Jonathan Breshears, MD, neurosurgeon with Saint Luke's Marion Bloch Neuroscience Institute. The surgical team, led by Dr. Breshears, performed an 8.5-hour procedure to remove the entire tumor.

“Sue’s tumor was growing from the base of her skull and severely compressing her frontal lobes, which play a major role in cognition and executive function,” says Dr. Breshears. “When cognitive symptoms develop slowly, they are often attributed to age or dementia. Fortunately, by surgically removing the tumor, her brain was able to recover, and her personality and cognitive abilities returned.”

After three days recovering in the hospital, Sue spent five days in post-surgery rehabilitation at Saint Luke’s North Hospital–Smithville, which was a convenient drive from their home in Chillicothe. Sue’s rehab included various cognitive exercises, such as sorting out change and working with numbered blocks.

Sue progressed to walking with a walker, gradually increasing her distance each day.

“I felt good enough to do whatever they would ask me to do, and I probably could have done more,” Sue says. “It was much better than just lying in a bed.”

Celebrating 65 Years

Sue undergoes an MRI at Hedrick Medical Center every six months to make sure the tumor does not grow back. 

Nearly two years removed from surgery, Sue has regained much of her physical and cognitive abilities. 

As Sue and Douglas look forward to their 65th wedding anniversary, they remember the precious moments that led them here. Last year, the couple hiked up to Laurel Falls in the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee and trekked the scenic mountains of Idaho. After 65 years of marriage, Douglas is still amazed at his wife’s resilience.

“She's really getting back to her fighting shape again,” Douglas says.

Saint Luke's Neuro-Oncology

Saint Luke’s Neuro-Oncology program uses advanced treatments and imaging for brain and spine tumors. Patients quickly move from diagnosis to treatment with our oncology and surgery experts. Our team creates customized treatment plans for each patient.

Our team also offers groundbreaking clinical trials not available at other hospitals in the region. These trials offer hope for aggressive tumors that frequently recur despite standard therapies.