Sharing Her Brain Cancer Care Partner Story Helps Blair Feel Less Alone
Blair’s story is one of love, resilience, and the strength that being a brain cancer care partner requires. She shares how her family’s world changed forever in November 2024, when her husband Kyle was diagnosed with a grade 4 astrocytoma, a form of brain cancer.
Interviewed by: Nikki Murphy
Edited by: Chris Sanchez
It all started subtly on Halloween, Kyle’s favorite holiday. He woke up feeling unusually groggy and with a strange sensation of pressure in his head, but he chalked it up to dehydration and lack of sleep. However, things took a more ominous turn when he found that he wasn’t able to read his emails at work and experienced disorienting lapses in his short-term memory.
Kyle quickly went to the ER, where doctors discovered a golf ball-sized tumor in his temporal lobe. He underwent surgery the very next day, right on his 38th birthday. The procedure went well, but he was diagnosed with a grade 4 astrocytoma, and also found that he had an IDH mutation.
The diagnosis hit hard, not just because Kyle’s condition was terminal, but also due to how it forced their family dynamics to change. These were uncharted waters for them. All of a sudden, Blair had to balance the roles of wife, mother, and brain cancer care partner. Their youngest child is on the autism spectrum, making the situation even more delicate. Blair worked to maintain a semblance of normalcy at home while coming to terms with her grief and fear.
Blair describes the strain of watching her once energetic, sports-loving, problem-solving husband struggle with simple tasks like reading a menu or dealing with text messages. Her experience isn’t just about physical caregiving; it’s also about having to deal with the emotional and mental shifts that come with brain tumors and their treatments.
Kyle began proton radiation and chemotherapy the day after Christmas. The treatments were grueling: 40 straight days of chemo combined with radiation, and then cycles of oral chemotherapy. Side effects like fatigue, nausea, and brain fog became part of daily reality. But Kyle’s spirit remained strong, thanks to Blair’s unwavering advocacy and care.
Blair can’t say enough about how important community is to her family. She advises other brain cancer care partners, as well as cancer care partners in general, to seek out and join support groups where they can connect with people who understand the unique challenges of this role. It’s been therapeutic for Blair to share their story, because doing so breaks the isolation that can come with such diagnoses like these.
Watch Blair’s video and learn more about:
- The Halloween surprise that changed everything for their family.
- How Kyle’s deceptively simple headache led to an astrocytoma diagnosis.
- Blair’s heartfelt advice for brain cancer care partners.
- Managing family life while caring for a loved one who has brain cancer.
- The emotional and physical challenges of being a brain partner care partner.
- Name:
- Kyle D.
- Age at Diagnosis:
- 38
- Diagnosis:
- Brain Cancer (Astrocytoma)
- Grade:
- Grade 4
- Mutation:
- IDH
- Symptoms:
- Malaise
- Pressure headaches
- Inability to focus and think straight
- Extremely high blood pressure
- Fatigue
- Short-term memory issues
- Treatments:
- Surgery: brain tumor resection
- Radiation therapy: proton therapy
- Chemotherapy
This interview has been edited for clarity and length. This is not medical advice. Please consult with your healthcare provider to make informed treatment decisions.
The views and opinions expressed in this interview do not necessarily reflect those of The Patient Story.
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