By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2025-01-07 23:18:52 | Updated at 2025-01-08 19:33:14
20 hours ago
A new dad has revealed how an ongoing headache turned out to be terminal brain cancer and he is unsure how much time he has left to live.
In spring 2024, Dustin Young from Arizona started suffering from prolonged headaches and vision loss when he made sudden movements.
Things finally got so bad, he experienced a headache for two weeks straight and no medication alleviated the pain - prompting him to see a doctor.
He and his wife Sera went to the hospital in May 2024 and doctors dismissed Dustin's symptoms as migraine attacks. Not fully convinced, however, the Youngs sought a second opinion.
Dustin also started experiencing strange, unexplainable symptoms, including dizzy spells, black outs, and forgetfulness. Then, in July, the couple learned he had a tumor the size of a baseball pressing against his brain.
Sera said on TikTok: We went in to have that MRI, and they found it, and he was sent to the ER immediately, obviously, because it's a very large tumor.'
The tumor was pressing on his frontal lobe, the area of the brain key for decision-making, processing information, and judgement.
Doctors removed it on July 15, but just two weeks later the couple learned it had not been a benign mass. He had terminal brain cancer.
Dustin and Sera Young [left to right with their son Tex] have been married for seven years. Their world was turned upside down when, in July, it was confirmed that Dustin has terminal brain cancer
Aggressive malignant brain cancers have a general median life expectancy of 12 to 18 months with treatment
Sera told People: 'My husband called me crying on the phone.
'The neurologist... told us he should be having seizures; he shouldn’t even be functioning.'
'There's no cure for it,' Sera added.
The couple immediately began fretting over their one-year-old son, Tex.
Sera called their situation 'a ticking time bomb' set to rob them of a life of holidays, birthdays, first days of school, and other life milestones together.
Sera said: 'We cried for four days straight.
'What about our baby? Will my husband get to see him grow up?'
The couple have been told by doctors that it's not a matter of if the cancer will kill Dustin, but when.
Life expectancies for different types of brain cancer vary widely, and Sera has not revealed what type specifically is plaguing her husband.
Aggressive malignant brain cancers have a general median life expectancy of 12 to 18 months with treatment.
The couple have been told by doctors that it's not a matter of if the cancer will kill Dustin, but when
Since having the tumor removed from his frontal lobe, Dustin has been in chemotherapy.
Sera said lovingly on TikTok that Dustin is interested in outdoor and extreme sports. One of his favorite things to do is skip rocks and loves a good steak. He's constantly napping and has the most contagious laugh.
'He's the best dad, the best person for a little boy to have as a dad. They're each other's minis and I'm hoping we get years and years of memories of these two together.'
In their quest for support, they turned to therapy and online communities.
Sera and Dustin took to social media with their story, eventually going viral.
'We've been dealing with our situation with a lot of dark humor,' she said.
'I posted a video that I thought was funny because it was relatable to our experience of denial and surprise.'
The comments included a blend of sympathy, prayers, and stories from others who had faced similar diagnoses.
Dustin has made a bucket list that includes attending a Dallas Cowboys game at their home stadium in Arizona. He is also writing personal letters for their son to read as he grows older
Over the past few months, Sera has remained active on TikTok, sharing updates about her husband's prognosis and her own grieving process through various videos, all while her community continues to grow.
Now, the family is focused on making the most of whatever time they have left together.
Dustin has made a bucket list of things he wants to do before he gets too sick and isn't able. It includes attending a Dallas Cowboys game at their home stadium in Arizona.
He is also writing personal letters for their son to read as he grows older.
'It taught us the importance of spending time together as happily and close as possible,' Sera said. 'We're trying to make the best of life with the cards we've been handed.'
