A new father has revealed how a constant headache turned out to be terminal brain cancer and he is unsure how much time he has left to live.
In the spring of 2024, Dustin Young from Arizona began experiencing prolonged headaches and loss of vision when making sudden movements.
Things eventually got so bad that he experienced a headache for two weeks straight and no medication relieved the pain, prompting him to see a doctor.
He and his wife Sera went to the hospital in May 2024 and doctors ruled out Dustin’s symptoms as migraine attacks. However, not completely convinced, the Youngs sought a second opinion.
Dustin also began experiencing strange and unexplained symptoms, including dizziness, fainting, and forgetfulness. Then in July, the couple learned he had a tumor the size of a baseball pressing against his brain.
serums saying on TikTok: We went to do that MRI, they found it and they sent him to the emergency room immediately, obviously, because it’s a very large tumor.
The tumor was pressing on his frontal lobe, the area of the brain key to decision-making, information processing and judgment.
Doctors removed it on July 15, but just two weeks later the couple discovered that it had not been a benign mass. He had terminal brain cancer.
Dustin and Sera Young (left to right with 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 an overall average life expectancy of 12 to 18 months with treatment.
Sera told him People: ‘My husband called me crying on the phone.
‘The neurologist…told us he should have seizures; It shouldn’t even be working.
“There is no cure for this,” Sera added.
The couple immediately began to worry about their one-year-old son Tex.
Sera called their situation “a ticking time bomb” destined to rob them of a lifetime of vacations, birthdays, first days of school, and other milestones in their lives together.
Sera said: ‘We cried for four days straight.
‘What’s wrong with our baby? Will my husband be able to see him grow?
Doctors have told the couple that it’s not a matter of if cancer will kill Dustin, but when.
Life expectancy for different types of brain cancer varies widely, and Sera has not revealed which type specifically affects her husband.
Aggressive malignant brain cancers have an overall average life expectancy of 12 to 18 months with treatment.
Doctors have told the couple it’s not a matter of if cancer will kill Dustin, but when
Since having the tumor removed from his frontal lobe, Dustin has been undergoing chemotherapy.
Sera fondly said on TikTok that Dustin is interested in outdoor and extreme sports. One of his favorite activities is skipping stones and he loves a good steak. He is constantly sleeping and has a very contagious laugh.
“He’s the best dad, the best person for a little kid to have as a parent.” “They are minis of each other and I hope we have years and years of memories of these two together.”
In their search for support, they turned to therapy and online communities.
Sera and Dustin took to social media with their story and it eventually went viral.
“We’ve been dealing with our situation with a lot of dark humor,” he said.
“I posted a video that I thought was funny because it related to our experience of denial and surprise.”
The comments included a mix 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. She is also writing personal letters for her 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 the time they have left together.
Dustin has made a list of things he wants to do before he gets too sick and can’t do them. Includes attending a Dallas Cowboys game at their home stadium in Arizona.
He also writes personal letters for his son to read as he grows older.
“He taught us the importance of spending time together in the happiest and closest way possible,” Sera said. “We’re trying to make the best of life with the cards we’ve been dealt.”