“They told my parents I wouldn’t make it to Christmas,” Brent Burgesser recalls. “Today, I’m cancer-free—living proof that miracles happen.”
For Brent, what began as a routine business trip quickly became a life-changing medical journey.
An Unexpected Diagnosis
While traveling for work in New Orleans, Brent suddenly lost hearing in his right ear. When he returned home, an ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist confirmed total hearing loss and immediately ordered an MRI.
The next day, Brent received a call that changed everything: doctors had found three tumors in his brain.
A neurologist soon delivered more difficult news. The tumors appeared to be inoperable, and doctors did not believe they had originated in his brain. Brent was told to go to the hospital immediately for additional testing.
Further scans revealed numerous tumors in his lungs. Brent was ultimately diagnosed with stage 4 lymphomatoid granulomatosis, a rare disease that can affect multiple organs, including the lungs and central nervous system.
The diagnosis was especially difficult to comprehend for someone who had always considered himself healthy. Brent was a lifelong athlete and CrossFit regular who didn’t smoke and rarely drank.
Suddenly, his life looked very different.
Facing Treatment—and an Uncertain Future
Brent began eight rounds of chemotherapy. Each cycle took a toll, leaving him increasingly sick and weak.
When the cancer did not respond as hoped, he underwent a month of targeted radiation to his brain, followed by additional chemotherapy.
By November 2020, Brent’s condition had become critical. His doctors warned his parents that he might not survive until Christmas.
But Brent and his medical team kept going.
With conventional treatment options running out, his doctors pursued a stem cell transplant. Brent spent two weeks undergoing the process of collecting his own stem cells in preparation for the procedure.
In April 2021, his medical team, led by Dr. Estil Vance, moved forward with the transplant. Brent first underwent an intensive chemotherapy regimen to prepare his body for the transplant. His collected stem cells were then returned to his body to help rebuild his blood and immune system.
The following day, Brent says he woke up feeling different—clearer, stronger and more alive.
A New Beginning
One month later, follow-up testing brought the news Brent and his family had hoped for: there was no evidence of cancer.
After months of grueling treatment and an uncertain prognosis, Brent had reached a milestone that once seemed impossible.
Today, he sees every day differently.
“I wasn’t supposed to survive,” Brent says. “But I did, thanks to my incredible doctors, my family, and the hope that never gave up on me.”
For Brent, sharing his experience is also a way to offer that hope to others facing frightening diagnoses and uncertain futures.
“If my story gives even one person the strength to keep fighting, it’s worth every moment I endured.”
Finding Hope Through Connection
Every person’s experience with a brain tumor diagnosis is different, but no one should have to navigate it alone. The American Brain Tumor Association provides trusted information, resources and support to help patients and families understand their options and feel more empowered throughout their journey.
