Schwannoma Survivors & Schwannoma Fighters: October 2017

Photo: Luke Farrell on the field with the Cincinnati Reds...his Schwannoma scar visible along the top of his neck.

Awhile back, a friend of our Schwannoma Survivors page, Michelle Santagata, told me about an exceptional young man by the name of Luke Farrell. Luke is a professional baseball player who is himself a survivor of a brachial plexus Schwannoma. Michelle's own son Craig, also a baseball player, had greatly appreciated the story of a top level baseball player who had faced down the exact same kind of Schwannoma that he is now dealing with. Connections were made and I was fortunate to hear back from Luke and he kindly agreed to do a short 3 question Q and A for us. We greatly welcome Luke's amazing story - and we are so grateful to the example that he provides for Schwannoma survivors everywhere.

So, for all those people who are fighting a Schwannoma right now - people who are wrestling with fear and anxiety for their future, we are proud to offer this fascinating and very positive insight into the experiences Luke, as he wrestled with a Schwannoma, and fought his way to health and a pro baseball career. Our thanks to Luke for taking some time to speak with us! - Neil

_________________________________________________________________

Questions:

1) Being a top level athlete requires a great deal from the human body. Many of us would love to know, what it was you felt (before removal) as you became aware that you had a Schwannoma? Simply put, what was it like to be a baseball player who finds he has a Schwannoma?

When I first found that I had a tumor I was told that we couldn’t accurately determine what it was without surgery. A biopsy was not possible and there were no other indications that left my doctors with the ability to make a diagnosis. Seeing the scans and hearing my doctors tell me they weren’t sure what it was that I had made for some really frightening, uneasy days. My plans to head to college and continue playing baseball just weren’t possible at that time. I quickly learned that a person’s health is the number one priority. It didn’t matter that I had big dreams for my future or that class began in two weeks. Everything else sort of stops and you’re left to face what’s in front of you. I’m thankful that I had people caring for and supporting me as we faced it all head on. Once the surgeries and diagnosis were made, then I could shift my focus to my recovery. Those dreams I had before all this craziness were still intact, they were just made maybe a little more difficult to achieve. I had lost about 25lbs and was in no shape to compete against Division 1 teams. But that was my goal and I was going to do everything I could to make it happen. I chose to believe that everyone is faced with their own set of challenges and this happened to be one of mine. When my schwannoma returned two years later, the process was similar. Absolute shock and a tidal wave of emotion, then trying to shift all my focus on solving this problem and beating it. In many ways, the desire to get back to baseball and school gave me a ton of determination to get through this time.

2) Your story about how bravely you faced surgery and recovery are well known ( we will provide links to articles telling the story ). I would be very curious to know, what was in like to be a baseball player on the road to recovery from a Schwannoma? What were the strategies you used to stay physically and emotionally strong through this process?

Recovery presents a lot of challenges both mentally and physically. In my head I still had a picture of what I should be able to do and the way my body should work on the field. Learning and accepting those limitations wasn’t an easy process. But, I was told that they could be made temporary and I could return to almost completely “normal” if I followed my physical therapy. At that point things were back in my control, which felt great after so much wasn’t for the last few weeks. I approached therapy with the same dedication and effort that I tried to put forth in baseball. In that way it was therapeutic both physically and mentally.

3) Lastly, I said to you previously that I had known a great many people who have accomplished fantastic physical and mental goals after having endured Schwannomas. A friend of our page recently completed the London marathon in very competitive time after enduring a spinal Schwannoma. But you are the first professional athlete that I have spoken with who has had Schwannoma. Being in the unique position you are, what are the words of hope that you may like to offer everyone from young athletes, to average people - moms, dads, and friends who are struggling with Schwannomas?

First, I’m thankful that you reached out and introduced me to this group. Having such a rare tumor has made it difficult to communicate to people exactly what it is that I have. At times that can be very alienating, something I’d think others with a schwannoma have felt. To be able to share and learn about this diagnosis with others who have been affected is really important.

If I were to give any advice to someone reading, it’s to try and take control of your fight as much as possible. Once I got over the initial shock, I did what I could to learn about what it is that I have. With the help of my family, we asked question after question of the different doctors we met until I felt comfortable moving forward. It forced me to have really candid conversations and make difficult decisions at a young age. I also knew I could control my attitude and my determination. When my first surgery failed I felt total despair. To wake up and hear that a 10-hour operation left me no closer to beating this thing is a feeling I don’t have the words for. But in my mind there was never another choice other than to move forward. Fortunately, my second procedure shortly after worked. When I learned my tumor had completely regrown just two years later, we went through this process again. We asked all our questions and made a plan. This time I was faced with radiation, but I wasn’t going to just stop and let this define me, I had to move forward. As of a few weeks ago I’m proud to say I’ve been healthy for 6 years. Each year when I go back for my scans I feel the same anxiety and the same fear. But I do my best to control what I can and go from there. Looking back, these moment have really shaped me and in many ways ended up having a positive impact on my life.