Josh Perry: Pro BMX Athlete & Multiple Brain Tumor Survivor
It wasn’t until I hit my head while riding one day, and had to get an MRI, that I would learn I had a tumor growing in my skull. I remember that feeling of being told, “there is something in your brain that doesn’t belong there. It’s a brain tumor. We don’t know if it’s cancerous or benign, but we do know your life depends on its removal.” I don’t know if anyone can relate to being told something as catastrophic as this and the feeling that comes along with it, but it is something I don’t wish on anyone. I instantly felt my world turn upside down. I couldn’t speak and the more the Urgent Care doctor spoke, the more everything went silent and tunnel vision set in. I couldn’t sit there and had to move. I got up and just walked out. I think I remember people yelling my name to stop but I didn’t care. At that moment in time, I believed my life was over and I had to get out of that room.
I went into my truck and just sat there in shock. Reality finally set in and tears just rolled down my face. I was just sitting there, alone, thinking this is it and I am about to die. I finally reached my goal as a professional BMX athlete. I won my first pro contest (and best trick to win a Harley) a year prior, rode in X-games for the first time, was approaching my 3rd or 4th year on the Dew Tour, and I felt I was on top of the world. I remember thinking, “Well, shit. Who do I tell? Do I tell anyone? What do I do with my things and money? Do any of these things even matter? Am I going to be alive long enough to do anything else? Will I ever get to ride my bike again?”
The first doctor told me I wouldn’t be able to ride ever again. He followed that up with explaining that I wouldn’t have long to live if it wasn’t immediately removed. Later on, after seeing Doctor Allan H. Friedman of Duke University, one of the best neurosurgeons in the world, he was confident in that he could remove the tumor. He had my surgery date scheduled immediately and the hospital actually had to reschedule other patients with not as severe tumors as the tumor I had in my skull, to get me in ASAP. Dr. Friedman informed me of the risks of such a surgery and they were no joke. He said I could not wake up, may have to have shunts put in, or I could wake up paralyzed, blind, deaf, and or have a stroke.
On April 16th of 2010, after a 6-hour surgery, Dr. Friedman successfully removed the tumor and it was said to be a benign (non-cancerous) tumor. I was amazed to have no pain, be alive and able to hear, see, and move my body. I recovered extremely well and was let go two days after surgery.
The recovery was not long at all. I was amazed to learn that the human skull can fuse back together in just 4 weeks! I remember going for that 4 week follow-up so excited, nervous, and confident to ask “can I ride yet?” All I had to do at this point was wait for the swelling to go away, which would just be another week or two.
I worked my ass off at the gym, riding on the road bike trainer, and learning about nutrition for an athlete. I remember the first day back from a legit session, coming home and feeling so light headed, weak, and nauseous from going too hard too soon. I was too excited and didn’t want to feel handicapped. I would spend so many hours riding Dave Mirra’s private training facility, “The Animal House”, on a daily basis. All that negative energy from the tumor was turned into fuel to not let my riding spoil.
In October of 2010, six months after my surgery, I made my first Dew-Tour final in Las Vegas! I remember the minute I found out — how amazing it felt. Once again I felt on top of the world.
The coolest thing about BMX, besides the actual riding and the people you meet, is the places you get to go. I never thought I would get the chance to ride my bike in India, or any foreign country for the matter, and get paid to do so.
India was not only a wild trip because of the fact I was in India, but it would be where I would yet again find out some devastating news. It was September 2012 when I got back to my hotel room from a demo where I found a message in my e-mail from my mother. She said there was something she needed to talk to me about. Mom told me about the recent MRI scan I had back in May that showed 2 tumors growing back. They were said to be the size of blueberries and located in a very dangerous spot — close by to the main artery. There were no immediate concerns, but would have to be dealt with at some point soon.
I was completely devastated by the news and I was starting to go crazy thinking of what to do, why this was happening again, and how could I stop them from growing. That same feeling of fearing for my life came back. This time because I thought for a minute it was cancerous and it would never stop.
I was on a train ride back to the airport, alone, and I remember being so scared and tears running down my face. I couldn’t handle the news or the fact that I was alone on a train in India of all places. I don’t know many people that have been put in this type of situation but it’s an unfathomable feeling to explain.
Even though this situation was not as severe as the initial brain tumor, those same feelings rushed back. After feeling sorry for myself and asking, “why me”, I refused to let the tumors control my happiness. I decided to put my headphones on and envision myself riding. I turned that fear, confusion, and devastation into fuel to get past this challenge and not let the tumors beat me down.
We checked into the hospital to get my blood work and paper work done. Dr. Julian Wu explained how Gamma Knife radiation works and the possible side-effects, along with the success rates.
The next day we would check in around 5–6 a.m. They got me right in as the first patient that day and started an IV on me. That is when reality really kicked in. Even though I was confident about our decision for Gamma Knife, I was still having to deal with tumors in my skull again and this time going through radiation treatments.
They would then attach a frame to my head by anchoring 4 screws into my skull. I was glad I missed the appointment the day before where they would explain this to me! They used this for accurate measurements with a sort of bowl they would temporarily attach to the frame. It was like one of those salon hair drying bowls you see an old woman sitting in with hair rollers but with tons of small holes in it. They used the holes to enter in measurement sticks all over my head.
There were 3 sessions of treatments at 15 minutes, 10 minutes, and another 15 minutes. It was painless and silent. Nothing like an MRI (if you have had an MRI you know what I am talking about!).
To my surprise, the recovery would only be about 7 days. I basically just had to wait until the incisions from the frame healed. I was back on my bike in about a week and felt like nothing ever happened.
The next scan in November of 2013 showed a slight decrease in one of the tumors, and the following year’s MRI in 2014 showed even better news, both areas were now decreasing! I was so stoked, but it is still weird at times to think about having tumors in your skull. It’s a pretty wild and unexplainable feeling, especially when your ride BMX for a living.
I just learned in March that there are now two new masses on the right side of my brain the size of peas (from residual cell growth), opposite of where the original surgery in 2010 was performed. We’re tracking any progression and I have a few options if it needs treatment, including Gamma Knife radiosurgery again. I’ll be keeping you all up to date on my progress through my blog.
My heart has always been in BMX as it’s served me in so many ways. From showing me the world and all the places I learned about in school, to having something negative like a crash actually save my life. BMX has taught me so much about myself, healthy life choices, and what really matters in life.
I am sharing my story to hopefully inspire you to have faith in yourself and have the courage to face any challenge that presents itself. A support group is crucial, but at the end of the day you posses the power to set your mind to accomplishing anything your heart desires.
The way I see it, you have two choices when bad times arise. You can do the hard thing and face it head on, full of optimism, positivity, and courage. Or, you can take the easy way and loose hope or give up.
I know some of you out there may have had worse things happen to you, and maybe not so much for others. The same principal still holds true.
Keep your head up. Be strong. Don’t give up! Stay positive and have faith in yourself to beat whatever demon is in your way.
If I can do it, surely you can too!
Josh Perry
To keep up with Josh’s progress, check out his blog, Twitter or Instagram. He recently launched a campaign with the Athlete Recovery Fund to create the Brainy BMX Stunt Shows, to bring awareness and assistance to those who suffer from tumors, cancers, and injuries of the brain.
Josh Perry: Pro BMX Athlete & Multiple Brain Tumor Survivor was originally published in Livestrong Voices on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.