35 - The Perfect Storm: How Drew Survived a Brain Tumor, Stroke and Meningitis35 - The Perfect Storm: How Drew Survived a Brain Tumor, Stroke and Meningitis
Rehabilitationships
Drew and Candace share how a brain tumour, severe infection and stroke reshaped their lives and led to an intense rehabilitation journey with Mary Free Bed. Their story focuses on medical challenges, emotional resilience and the motto to "choose your hard" and not let the hard days win.
27:24•1 Sept 2026
The Perfect Storm: Drew and Candace’s Journey from Crisis to Walking Again
Episode Overview
- A seizure at home led to the discovery of a tennis ball-sized brain tumour that had likely been growing for years without symptoms.
- Post-surgical bacterial meningitis and a stroke left Drew’s left side paralysed and his core so weak he couldn’t sit upright.
- The combination of surgery, infection and stroke destroyed over 85% of the tumour, described by surgeons as "the perfect storm."
- Specialist rehabilitation at Mary Free Bed took Drew from arriving on a stretcher to walking out with a cane and continuing to improve at home.
- Drew and Candace emphasise patience, perseverance and their mottos "choose your hard" and "don’t let the hard days win" for anyone starting a recovery journey.
“"Don’t let the hard days win."”
Experience the emotional and inspiring tales of recovery as Drew and Candace share what they call "the perfect storm" of medical crises and rehabilitation. A tennis ball-sized brain tumour, a seizure, multiple brain surgeries, severe bacterial meningitis, a stroke and months in intensive care turned their everyday life in Farmington Hills upside down.
You’ll hear how Drew went from collapsing at home, waking up to a paralysed left side and unable even to sit upright, to walking nearly half a mile without a cane and planning a 5k for brain cancer. The couple talk through the terrifying speed of the infection that almost cost Drew his life, and how that same infection, together with the stroke and surgery, ended up destroying more than 85% of his tumour – the surgeons’ "perfect storm".
A big part of their story is Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital. Drew arrived on a stretcher, non‑communicative and without core strength, and left walking through the tunnel with a hemi-walker, then a cane. They describe the Grand Rapids team as uplifting, attentive and family‑like, from medical staff spotting critical issues to nurses organising a surprise sixth‑anniversary celebration with cake, flowers and a personalised song.
There’s plenty here for anyone facing a long recovery journey: choosing a good rehab team, accepting help, and the hard mindset shift from “I’ll never walk again” to taking first steps just days after a shunt revision.
Candace shares the phrase that kept her going – "choose your hard" – while Drew adds his adopted motto: "Don’t let the hard days win." If you’re wondering how people keep going through months of uncertainty, fear and physical limitation, this conversation offers raw honesty, humour about "chip dip" skulls and straighter golf swings, and a clear message: never give up hope. What hard day do you need to stop letting win?
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