From OHC
September 18, 2024
OHC patient Abraham Zaki was a vibrant 32-year-old man with a zest for life. A world traveler with a passion for real estate, he had built a fulfilling career in computer programming and enjoyed a close relationship with his family. He loved traveling with his mother, Sue. Little did he know that his life was about to take an unexpected turn.
After experiencing debilitating headaches for weeks, one night in January 2023 would change everything. Sue woke in the middle of the night to a frightening scene; Abraham was experiencing a sudden and unexplained loss of consciousness. After he awoke, Sue waited and eventually decided to take him to the emergency room after speaking with Abraham’s nephrology provider, Dr. Arshdeep Tindni of Nephrology Associates of Greater Cincinnati. The ER diagnosed Abraham with a stroke, but more troubling was the cause. Scans revealed a rare vascular brain tumor called an oligodendroglioma. This slow-growing tumor was the cause of his headaches and had been growing for most likely several years.
Sue was devastated but determined to support her son. “It was very scary. After he was first in the hospital, I went numb. I didn’t have time to think about what I was doing. He’s so important to me and I didn’t know if he was going to make it,” explains Sue.
Abraham went into surgery within days and the tumor was removed. The road to recovery was arduous. Abraham faced countless challenges, from re-learning how to move his entire left side which had been impacted by the stroke, to finding the right medications along the way. “I was just really focused on moving my hand at first, the small things, rather than what the future held,” describes Abraham.
With the tumor removed and Abraham regaining control over his body and mind, the focus shifted to preventing recurrence. This meant undergoing chemotherapy and radiation. It was during this phase that Abraham and Sue turned to OHC for support.
Because of Abraham’s previous kidney disease, he already had a prior connection to OHC, so he knew where to go for cancer treatment. Abraham started seeing Prasad R. Kudalkar, MD, OHC medical oncologist and hematologist. “Abraham first presented to the hospital in January of 2023 and imaging showed a large right frontal mass. This was removed and after recovering from surgery I met with him to discuss a treatment plan that would give him the best possible outcome with more time for what he loves to do,” adds Dr. Kudalkar.
Abraham’s treatment plan included a multi-disciplinary approach that encompassed chemotherapy medication taken at home and radiation therapy overseen by OHC radiation oncologist Imran H. Chowdhury, MD.
“Both Dr. Kudalkar and Dr. Chowdhury have been so courteous and helpful during my treatment at OHC. I appreciate both of them so much,” says Abraham.
OHC radiation oncologist Imran H. Chowdhury, MD
When Abraham first started seeing a doctor at OHC years ago, he knew he was in a place where they cared about their patients, but he also worried about how long he’d be here. “I was scared by the chairs because they were so comfortable. That worried me because that probably meant I’d be sitting in them for a long time,” he jokes. Sue adds, “Everyone at OHC has been very helpful.”
The close relationship between Abraham and Sue is visible after just a few minutes in their company. When Abraham struggles to recall those early days after his stroke, his mother is able to help fill in the gaps of what happened.
The journey has been as much a test of their resilience as a testament to their love. Sue has been by her son’s side every step of the way, providing unwavering support, encouragement, and a sense of normalcy. Together, they have continued to travel, finding solace and adventure in exploring new places.
Abraham says that the best advice he can give is to first “trust those around you – they know more than you do.” Apart from that, he says that focusing on the small wins is what helped him the most while struggling with the hardest parts of his journey.
To learn more about OHC’s treatment options for brain cancer, please visit ohcare.com.
