This summer, Aug. 17 to be exact, is the tenth anniversary of the brain surgery of Joy Thomson that involved the removal of a tumor a bit larger than a golf ball from behind her left eye.

The tumor, thankfully, was benign and Thomson, now 68 and former teacher in the Greendale School District, continues to enjoy her three children, nine grandchildren and an active, healthy retirement. Because she is a survivor and acutely aware of other village citizens who have recently died from brain tumors, she feels a bit unworthy of attention and would prefer to stay in the shadows, out of the spotlight. But her story is one of hope, a positive attitude and the key role a supportive family plays in recovery and is one deserving to be told.

"I didn't teach for a whole year following the surgery, but I was able to come back to teaching for another three years before retiring," said Thomson. "I felt I connected with the kids more than I did before it happened and that I  became a better teacher and person because of what I went through. You value life more and I became more positive. I'm very fortunate to be healthy physically and in shape mentally. I'm so blessed everything went well."

The first several months of recuperation, though, were anything but easy for Thomson, and she only started to come around and begin to feel "normal" near Easter time the following year. Still, recall of specific dates and personal milestones are vivid and come easily to her mainly because of the proximity to the tragedy on Sept. 11, 2001, which took place less than a month after surgery.

"The worst part was being in bed for many weeks and being very weak," Thomson said. "It took a long time to eat properly and to get my eyes to focus. I lost a lot of weight. I couldn't read for months. The physical part was healing but it took a long time for the brain itself to heal. I didn't go among people for a long time because it was too overwhelming. I couldn't handle the stress and would cry at the drop of a hat.  The tumor was near the memory part of the brain and I needed to walk to stimulate the serotonin in the brain. But it was a slow process."

When she was at last able to return to teaching and her 7th grade Natural Science/Math class at the Greendale Middle School, Thomson welcomed a special guest speaker one day during their study session on the human body. Village Trustee Jim Birmingham escorted his wife, Peggy, to the class along with x-rays of the brain tumor she herself was battling at the time. The Birmingham's daughter, Kayla, was a student in Thomson's class. Peggy died in 2005, the year Thomson retired from full-time teaching.

The tumor Thomson had removed is a kind known to grow back and she indeed has seen a slight growth in that area of her forehead in the last couple of years. But the location is in a critical site where a second surgery would be riskier than the first, and Thomson would opt for radiation treatments if it does come to that. But she doesn't dwell on the possibility.

"I'm pretty good about not worrying, and whatever is to be is to be," she said. "It certainly doesn't affect my life."

A typical day in that busy life often includes much walking, thinking games such as Mahjong or Sheepshead, ushering at the 1st Stage Children's Theatre, substitute teaching at Greendale Middle School, community involvement, family time or traveling. Thomson's memories are sharp and clear of all she went through ten years ago and since, but she manifestly refuses to linger on the struggles.

"I went into surgery very calm although my family was very much in shock at the time," Thomson said. "I just didn't know enough to worry about it. But you have to have a positive attitude and not worry about things you cannot change. You can make yourself healthier with exercise and physical therapy. Attitude is a big thing. You have to think about the best possibilities."

***This is the third of part of  a series of articles about people who had brain cancer or have lost someone to the illness. Saturday will be the 2^nd annual “Greendale Community Charity Walk” to help raise awareness for brain cancer.