SEATTLE – Johnny DuRocher laughed, joked and moved his arm in a throwing motion Thursday afternoon. It’s safe to say the University of Washington junior quarterback’s surgery to remove a brain tumor went well.
“His surgery went perfectly,” said Dr. Richard Ellenbogen, who performed the surgery at Harborview Medical Center on Thursday morning. “Johnny’s a tough kid both on the field and off the field. He was ready to go home a few hours after the surgery. He looked great, he’s doing wonderfully, he’s just got a great attitude.”
The surgery lasted 2 hours and confirmed that the tumor – which measured about four centimeters by 2 inches – was benign. Dr. Ellenbogen said there was more tumor than he expected, but it was removed in its entirety.
“Yesterday when he came out (of surgery) we were commenting how great he was (doing),” said DuRocher’s mother Corina. “He was telling jokes, he was talking about all the nurses, he knew all about the nurses. He was doing really well.”
Dr. Ellenbogen said it was up to DuRocher whether he wanted to play sports again. DuRocher is not expected to continue playing football, but he has expressed interest in joining the UW baseball team in January.
“He’ll be able to play sports again,” Dr. Ellenbogen said. “At what level he plays sports is to be seen.”
DuRocher’s parents said they would leave it up to Johnny if he wants to play sports again, but his father John Sr. said he would not like his son to play football again, particularly because it would be unlikely Johnny would be one of the top two quarterbacks next season.
“I wouldn’t like to see him play again,” John DuRocher Sr. said. “He’s got a plate in his head with screws. It’s a totally different process when your son’s the starter and has a chance to go pro. Why risk it?”
DuRocher’s tumor was discovered during an MRI following a concussion he suffered on Nov. 11 in a game against Stanford. Dr. Ellenbogen said it was likely DuRocher had the tumor since he was very young and said it was remarkable that DuRocher was able to continue to play and never complained about any symptoms. Most young people with that type of brain tumor have balance issues and severe headaches. But Dr. Ellenbogen said he believed symptoms would have started showing up soon had it not been discovered because DuRocher’s brain was under significant pressure, and the tumor had grown since it was first discovered.
“It was unimaginable to me that he didn’t have severe headaches from this,” Dr. Ellenbogen said. “His brain was under a great deal of pressure.”
The tumor was located in DuRocher’s cerebellum near the back of his neck and Dr. Ellenbogen said it was somewhat difficult getting through DuRocher’s large neck muscles. But once there, the tumor was easily pealed away.
Corina DuRocher said it was disheartening to learn that her son had a brain tumor, but it helped that Johnny was able to remain positive. She said he already has a calendar of things he’d like to do this week and has remained upbeat. She said the only time Johnny expressed any fear was after the surgery was over.
“He said the one time he got scared was Wednesday night when he thought, ‘What happens if it’s not benign?’ That’s the only time he let on to us (he was scared).”
DuRocher is expected to go home this weekend and spend the next month resting. Dr. Ellenbogen said the likelihood of a recurrence is close to zero, and if a tumor does reappear, it would also likely be benign. DuRocher will have an MRI in a few weeks, another one in a year and then he will be monitored for five or six years.
John DuRocher Sr. said Johnny appreciated all the support he received from friends and fans. DuRocher’s coaches at Oregon – where he began his college career – had called with their support and UW coach Tyrone Willingham visited Friday morning.
“He’s got a really good attitude,” John DuRocher Sr. said. “He’s impressed us the way he’s handled it and his whole outlook. We’re really proud of him.”
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