Giving thanks

Cancer reinforces importance of family

‘I’m lucky to be sitting here in this chair,’ says Don Dulle.

Donald Dulle, investigator for the Greene County prosecutor and a teacher at Wright State, has fought brain cancer since 2000. Staff photo by Christopher Magan

Christopher Magan Donald Dulle, investigator for the Greene County prosecutor and a teacher at Wright State, has fought brain cancer since 2000. Staff photo by Christopher Magan

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By Christopher Magan, Staff Writer Updated 10:35 AM Friday, November 27, 2009

A car crash caused by a grand mal seizure just days before Donald Dulle’s wedding steered him into a fight for his life with brain cancer, a battle he still courageously wages.

“I’m thankful to be alive,” said Dulle, who is an investigator for the Greene County Prosecutor’s Office and a political science teacher at Wright State University. “And I’m thankful for my family, my two little boys.”

His 2000 car accident resulted in doctors discovering Dulle had brain cancer. After multiple seizures, he underwent an emergency crainiotomy on Dec. 5, 2000. He said he married the love of his life, Jamie, 25 days later.

Early on, doctors gave him “little chance to live,” Dulle said, but he chose to fight. “My wife and I weren’t having it.”

So the couple searched the Internet for help. They found Dr. Edward Shaw at the Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, who specializes in treating young patients with brain cancer.

“He said: ‘I’ll fix you up, no problems. You probably will never have to worry about this again,’ ” Dulle recalled.

Dulle’s first son, Boston Edward, 3, is named for the doctor. His second son, Braylen Donald, 2, was born shortly after. “They’re two little miracle kids,” Dulle said. “I say that because I don’t think I was supposed to have kids.”

Dulle’s cancer is millimeters away from a part of the brain that controls motor skills, he said. “Doctors told me if anyone had brain cancer this was the perfect spot to have it,” he said.

“I could be in a wheelchair or in a bed, which would prevent me from playing with my kids.

“I’m so thankful I can get up in the middle of the night, go to their bedroom and hear them breathe,” Dulle said.

“I’m privileged and blessed to have gotten to know them.”

His cancer returned in 2005, 2007 and again this past spring.

All together, Dulle underwent four cranial surgeries and both radiation and chemotherapy treatments.

“I’m lucky to be sitting here in this chair.” Dulle said.

He relies on the support of his family and friends.

“I get up everyday and put faith in doctors and the medicine. I say I can go on forever.

‘‘You never know what will happen.”

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