Paving the Road for a Better Tomorrow

In March 2024, Keith, 58, a longtime Saint Luke’s engineer, was in a  construction meeting. Business as usual, he recalled, until someone  asked him a question. He started to answer, but he couldn’t speak.  His mouth felt numb, and coworkers had to keep him from falling.  They took him to the Emergency Department, which, luckily, was nearby since they worked at Saint Luke’s Hospital on the Plaza.

An MRI and CT scan revealed Keith had a cancerous brain tumor. Having worked for Saint Luke’s for 32 years, Keith was about to  experience firsthand what makes Saint Luke’s Marion Bloch Neuroscience Institute one of the best places to get care.

Surgery: ASAP

The biopsy determined Keith’s cancer was glioblastoma, an aggressive grade 4 tumor. Given the severity of the situation, Jonathan Breshears, MD, a neurosurgeon at Saint Luke’s, scheduled Keith for surgery as soon as possible—one week after his initial seizure. In the span of a week, Keith went from “business as usual” to needing life-saving surgery. He barely had time to fully grasp his condition—he had been relatively healthy before the seizure. But he trusted Dr. Breshears’ reputation and expertise in neuro oncology. 

“I knew it was serious,” Keith said, “but I already had (cancer), so I might as well face it head on and not let it take me down.” 

Dr. Breshears successfully performed a brain mapping procedure, which is  the most precise way to protect the healthy brain while removing a tumor.  Keith had a brief stay in the ICU after surgery to help minimize the risk of infection and promote faster recovery, then returned home to recover under the care of his family.

Trial Run 

Despite a successful surgery, glioblastoma is a tumor that cannot be cured with surgery alone. Keith consulted with neuro-oncologist Samuel Goldlust, MD, to review his options for treatment. In addition to standard-care radiation and chemotherapy, Dr. Goldlust suggested a clinical trial only available at a handful of top brain tumor centers nationwide. Keith was happy to participate. 

“I felt very good about the trial and the possibility this could help somebody else down the road,” he said.

While much of the clinical trial is still confidential, Keith received an infusion and oxygen therapy in addition to radiation and chemotherapy.  The treatments leave Keith fatigued, but the promise of a better tomorrow has made the recovery worth it.

Why We Give

As Keith regains more of this strength, he is taking time to enjoy life.  He recently took a trip to the Caribbean, something he may not have been able to do were it not for the diligence of his physicians and nurses  at Saint Luke’s. And taking part in a clinical trial will hopefully result in more positive stories for patients with brain tumors in the future. Keith discovered firsthand how Saint Luke’s sets itself apart with dedication to the most advanced cancer research and treatments. 

Your donations help make all this possible.

As a not-for-profit, Saint Luke’s depends on our generous donors to help us deliver leading-edge cancer care to the thousands of patients we serve.  When you give, we can give more: more care, more years, more hope.