When doctors told him his brain tumour was growing, Brendan Yhip started preparing for a life of disability.
But thanks to the world class medical staff, innovations, and extraordinary care he received at University Health Network (UHN) — Canada’s number one hospital — Brendan is now living a full and active life. He runs, works as a college professor, and advocates for fellow patients.
Diagnosed at age 12, Brendan started coming to UHN’s Toronto Western Hospital for yearly MRI scans starting at age 18. “The tumour was located in the hippocampus where it caused seizures,” said Brendan. Fortunately, Brendan was able to manage them with medication and good lifestyle habits.
In December 2022, at age 27 and after years of remaining stable, Brendan’s tumour showed signs of growing on the MRI scan. “The neurology team suggested it might be time to consider having it removed,” said Brendan.
Having surgery meant risk of vision loss, speech impediment, memory problems, and cognitive impairment. But not having surgery meant risk of the tumour spreading.
He opted for the surgery based on his research and advice from the UHN team. “Being young and a relatively healthy person, I figured I’d have a more resilient recovery,” he said.
The shocking and scary diagnosis came at a time when Brendan’s career was taking off. “I worked in the bridal industry and had just started as a professor teaching at Humber College,” he said. But the assurance of his UHN team gave him peace of mind.
Brendan’s craniotomy surgery at UHN’s Krembil Brain Institute in December 2022 was a success. “That was a victory in itself,” said Brendan. However, he now had peripheral vision loss and cognitive impairment affecting his speech. He would need lots of rehab. One of his biggest concerns was not being able to be physically active again. But early on in his recovery, doctors encouraged him to get lots of physical activity, which promotes blood flow to the brain.
Three weeks after surgery, Brendan took his first jog — another victory. “Being able to move my body like that after preparing for a life of disability was such a profound moment in this journey. I was so grateful that I literally stopped, dropped to my knees with my hands to the ground, and kissed the pavement,” he said.
“I was adapting to a new way of life, looking for solutions to live in this new way. I took up meditation to improve cognitive function — mindful and spiritual practice – very grounding, rather than spiraling — finding joy in the journey.”
In June 2023, Brendan started outpatient rehabilitation at UHN’s Toronto Rehab, working with a speech pathologist, cognitive therapist, and social worker. To test his cognitive response and help his vision loss so he could regain his driver’s license, therapists used an advanced medical device to assess and train his peripheral vision and reaction time. To help restore his vocabulary and help him navigate his thoughts and new way of living with an invisible injury, Brendan’s speech pathologist recommended journaling for 10 minutes a day.
“One thing she said to me is your speech isn’t gone, you just misplaced it, so it was a matter of finding it again,” he said. “This process of journaling, it was for navigating my thoughts and just trying to work with my brain and expand and explore my language again. It wasn’t like I couldn’t speak. It was a little challenging to communicate.”
Graduating from the rehab program four months later was another victory for Brendan. “The care they provided at Toronto Rehab really helped me to piece together a new version of myself and get my life back,” he said.
Having had such an intense experience inspired Brendan to become a UHN patient partner. “I wanted to give back what was given to me and impact the future of health care while advocating for current and future patients,” he said.
Now fully recovered and back teaching, Brendan feels his health journey with UHN has transformed him as a person. “I’ve learned to put into practice new ways of existing not only within myself but within society and how to be my authentic self,” he said. The journey has also taught him the value of human experience — a key ingredient to his interactions with the students in his marketing and social media classes, and as a patient partner.
Brendan is extremely grateful for the care he received at UHN. “Even before my diagnosis, it was extraordinary. They have the best medical teams who deliver the most compassionate care,” he said.
To say thank you for the care he received at UHN, this spring Brendan will be participating in We Walk UHNITED presented by Rogers. This new fundraiser includes a five-kilometre walk followed by a celebratory event outside UHN’s Toronto General Hospital.
Donor support is critical to helping UHN recruit the best medical talent, develop new treatments for disease, and maintain the excellence in patient care that give patients like Brendan the chance to lead a full and active life.
Join Brendan and register for We Walk UHNITED at wewalkUHNITED.ca
This article originally appeared in the Toronto Star, read it here.
No one ever changed the world on their own but when the bright minds at UHN work together with donors we can redefine the world of health care together.
