Cancer Couldn't Stop Him: The Kenneth E Brumbaugh Story

When we met I had never known someone with so much drive to exercise. Ken was constantly active with running, biking, triathlons, swimming, hunting, and fishing. I got tired just thinking about all he did but I fell in love with him.

He had never smoked and I did but love brought us together and I eventually quit smoking. That was not easy at all but with the support of my children and Ken I did it.

This man would work a day, come home and jump on his bike or went for a run. We went to running, biking or some type of race on a weekly basis. He was very competitive but also supportive of others.

One night about 3 in the morning I woke up to Ken thrashing around and flipping off the bed. It seemed like some type of seizure. I managed to get him to the hospital to find out that he had broken both his shoulders. He was very confused and no one would believe me when I said I thought it was a siezure. They thought he was on drugs and wanted to do blood work. I gave them permission. In the meantime his doctor came in and was very surprised to see the state my husband was in. I explained the whole situation.

Knowing Ken well the doctor knew he was not on drugs. He ordered an MRI on his shoulders and added a brain scan while they had him there. He told me to go home and get some rest. Ken would be staying in hospital for the night. His bloodwork was clean.

About 8 AM the doctor called me with the news. Ken had some kind of mass the size of an egg in his brain. The doctor had called a neurosurgeon in and I was to meet with them as soon as possible. I had an idea what I was in for. I had gone through a similar situation with my mother about 2 years before. She had died of cancer that started in her lungs and went to her brain in three months time.

I arrived at Ken's room feeling numb and trying to build up the strength to walk into his room. He was drifting in and out of sleep but recognized me. He asked if the doctor had told me. I answered and started crying. Then Ken, who is going through this says to me "Don't worry, it will be ok."

He was scheduled for surgery by both doctors. One would do the shoulder surgery first and then the next would do the brain surgery. All I could think of was how can I be strong again through this. I was trying to figure out how to explain this to his three children plus the two of mine. He had been such a big part of their lives.

After the shoulder surgery the first doctor came and told me all went well. Now the surgeon was in the process of the brain surgery. Time seemed to go on forever. I didn't even think of calling anyone. Just the neighbor that was watching my kids. What was I going to do?

Finally the surgeon came out to explain the situation. It was cancer. It was an astrocytoma. A tumor that roots through the brain. He went in and removed the center. He did not want to dig through his brain trying to pick this tumor out. That would only cause more damage and with this surgery we had no idea of what problems he may have. I questioned the doctor but at the end of the conversation I was told it was now in God's hands. They would try radiation and if he would go into remission, he may have a year.

How could I face someone that had always worked hard to take such great care of himself and tell him he was just handed a death sentence?

When I went to his room he knew me which was a plus. I had not known that the doctor had already told him. I was surprised at how alert he was already. He then looked at me and told me he wasn't going to die yet. He wasn't ready. I stood there and wondered how can I be weak when he had an attitude like that.

So our journey began. He spent 20 days in the hospital. He had to have one shoulder operated on again, started his radiation each day and had therapy because he tried reading but could not comprehend. That was rough on him because he read all the time. He also became closer to God which is most understandable at a time like this.

As soon as he was out of the hospital he was walking everywhere. It was winter and he scared me too death. It was icey outside and I worried about him falling. We'd visit the malls a lot and as soon as he could he worked out at the YMCA. Swimming and weights helped him a lot along with therapy for his shoulders. He set his goals for races and triathlons and made them. This man even ran a couple marathons a year.

His next MRI came due to check the tumor. We were both terrified but when the news came it was good. The tumor actually started to shrink.

Ken kept the great attitude. He worked, cycled, ran and exercised as usual. He just enjoyed life but there were times. Times when he'd confide in me and let his fears go. He was scared because he was constantly reminded that this was a terminal cancer. He did not want to die of this cancer. He wanted to die doing something he loved. It was so heart breaking at times.

Yet, in front of everyone else he was always brave. He was there for those in the same predicament. Some how he had touched so many lives. Whether through cancer, racing, hunting or fishing he knew many people.

For nine years we enjoyed our lives together. We always discussed God and our beliefs. Each year he went for his MRI and the tumor could actually not be seen. The doctors were surprised but always warned him it was terminal and would come back. I wanted to scream "We know that thank you!"

One day to my surprise Ken had decided to go running instead of hunting after work. I had talked to him at lunch that day. Didn't happen everyday but that day it did. We hung up after telling each other I love you. I always got home about an hour and a half after he did so he was usually gone.

When I did arrive at home my daughter was sitting on the couch white as a ghost. I asked her if she was ok. She had just gotten a call before I walked in the door.

Ken had been running with a friend. A careless teenager driving too fast came flying over the hill, lost control, swirved and hit both of them. Our friend survived but Ken did not.

Over the next few days I had felt the loneliest I had ever felt in my whole life. I had so many people, so many friends there but felt so alone. All I could think of though was that Ken had gotten his wish. He did not die of this cancer, he died doing something he loved.

Soon after his death our friends came to me about starting up a running race in Ken's honor.

This year, March 2009 we held our 14th Ken Brumbaugh Memorial Race through the Hollidaysburg YMCA. The YMCA is something that he felt very strongly about and with their help we keep Ken's memory alive. Through his friends and his standards his memory will always live on.