March 16, 2012

I want people to know first off that the goal of this website is to keep everyone updated first and foremost.  It is also as an outlet for me to express my emotions in a healthy way that can keep a positive spin on such a negative situation.  This is NOT in any way about me AT ALL but rather a first-hand point of view that I want to remember

       Spencer Hampton on March 16, 2012 had a M.R.I. at 9:30 a.m. after having symptoms of numbness on the left side of his body, a ringing in his ears, blurried vision, slow speech, and overall personality change that was inexpleciable.  The results of this M.R.I. revealed that Spencer had 4 tumors in his brain.  The tumors were located near the temple, medulla oblongata and opposite parallel spots on each side of the brain above the ears.  He was hospitialized around 7 p.m. Friday when his bed was ready.

     After the news there was an obvious reaction of shock and sadness.  I am sure that much like when people are asked where they were when 9/11 took place, this event had a familiar reaction to some of us close to Spencer and his family.  I myself was in a car ride back from key west, surrounded by close freinds.  I remember my phone vibrating from a message I had recieved from my mom.  The message read "Trey call me back asap its an emergency."  I remember thinking slowly at this moment because I didn't want to rush to judge what might be an emergency to my mom.  I called her back to recieve the news in a very direct manner that must of been severly hard for her to deliver.  I almost believe that she was fighting between being two diffferent people in that moment, a "nurse" who is trained to deliver news of the sort, and a "mother" who had accepted Spencer as her own son. I remember my stomach turning in a painful manner that made it hard for me to express any response to her besides "yes mam" and "ok." As I hung up the phone I remember never feeling more alone even though I was surrounded by six guys who I had been in a car with for 14 hours.  My mind started racing and the minutes turned into hours.  I felt so helpless and didnt know how to react.  I sat alone not discussing the massive news I had just learned about my brother.  I still to now don't know why I didnt say something.  I think I might have been too overwhelmed and dilusional from the lack of sleep and the weight of the news I had just discovered. 

       I got home to Wilmington and dashed to get in my car in race to Greenville. I remember not beeing able to see as I was driving because I couldn't stop the tears from flowing down both my cheeks.  I called my best freinds Nick Lewis and Mike Garland because I knew that I wanted the two people that have allowed me to lean on them the most with my problems in the past.  My sister Lindsay then called me... I knew that if there was one person that I was the most afraid to talk to it was Lindsay.  I didn't know how to be strong for the one person I care the most about in this entire world.  It was during this phone call I realized that like most times in our lives together, she was the strong one.  She spoke to me with such courage telling me that she was worried about me driving home safe and that she was okay and that we are going to get through this together.  At this point I was ready to see the family.  I picked Katie up in Kinston and told her the news and she kept me together for the rest of the drive being my source of comfort that I needed. 

      I got to to Greenville eventually and went to my sisters apartment at Turtle Creek.  I walked in the door and saw my sister, to which ran to me and hugged me.  It was that sense of being able to embrace her with all of my muscle and tell her that I loved her and that the love of her life and my brother was going to be okay.  I was then held by my mom who was surely glad to see her other son I am sure.  I must say I then saw Mrs.Sara, Spencer's mother.  I can't imagine the thoughts and sense of state she had to be in but I looked in her eyes and saw nothing but courage.  Her ability to not say a word and still grab me and let me know that past all the shock, confusion and sadness, there was also prayer, confidence in her son, and the loving nature I have seen her display so often. 

      I then walked into Spencer's room to see him.  As I walked in the door I was greeted by the goofy tone of voice and quick manner in which I had come accustomed to as Spencer said, "Trey?" haha.  I knew at this moment that I realized that it was still my brother Spencer laying on that bed and not your regular hospital patient who was rattled by the overwhelming life or death situation at hand.  His strength had lifted his spirits along with everyone who came in contact with him.