Brunner (Betroffener und Angehöriger, Partner)

At the age of 29, Mr. Brunner was diagnosed with a slow-growing brain tumor, which generally has a good prognosis following surgical removal. Looking back, he had already been suffering from epileptic seizures for several years, which had frequently manifested as brief “absences.” These absences were likely caused by the tumor. On the recommendation of his treatment team, he decided to undergo surgical removal of the tumor. Complications arose during the procedure: surgery-related vascular damage led to a severe stroke.

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A new definition of quality of life

Mr Brunner describes how his illness has changed his perspective on quality of life. Today, he sees many things in a very positive light and appreciates the little things in everyday life.

TRANSCRIPT

Everyone has their own idea of what constitutes quality of life, and I can – as a healthy person, you do have one – there are many things you take for granted as essential to your quality of life, and there’s a huge change after you’ve been through an illness like that. You end up redefining what quality of life means. I: I can imagine. How did that change for you? E1: Yes, for me it gave me a completely new perspective, yes. Once I’d lived through the whole thing afterwards, the rehabilitation, yes, it changed very positively. I saw much more joy in everything – well, I don’t know if it was a near-death experience, but I saw much more joy in everything. Really. In conversations, in people. Especially nature; I looked at everything quite differently. Positively, yes. That’s actually carried on until now, yes. I: And could you have imagined having a good quality of life with those limitations before? E1: Before, I don’t think so, no. I don’t think so. No, I believe – well, I just don’t know how much of it had to do with my depression back then. Back then, I could never have imagined it. Now I’d even go so far as to say: I’m glad I went through it. Because it’s changed so much in my life. My relationship is one thing that wouldn’t have happened otherwise, but actually my whole outlook – how I look at everything. I’m learning to appreciate what we have much more, like that. And I’m enjoying it.

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Brunner (Betroffener und Angehöriger, Partner)

Epilepsy as a warning sign of a brain tumour

A benign tumour always caused Mr Brunner to have blackouts

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