Terry Loui’s Brain Tumor Survival (1966-2012)

Overview

In 1966, Terry Loui was diagnosed with a brain tumor at age 7 and given a 5-year survival prognosis. Against all odds, Terry survived 46 years beyond diagnosis, living until 2012 at age 53. This extraordinary survival story represents one of the most dramatic medical narratives in the Loui family, demonstrating both the limits of medical prognosis and the power of hope, treatment, and family support.

The Diagnosis (1966)

Terry at Age 7

Born: 1959
Age at diagnosis: 7 years old
Location: Honolulu, Hawaii
Youngest of five Loui brothers
Childhood suddenly interrupted by devastating diagnosis

Medical Context (1966)

Pediatric oncology in mid-1960s:

Very limited treatment options for childhood brain tumors
Extremely low survival rates (most fatal within 5 years)
Radiation therapy primary treatment (chemotherapy limited)
Neurosurgery dangerous with high mortality risk
Prognosis often grim - families told to prepare for death

What doctors told family:

5-year survival prognosis
Likely meant: prepare for Terry to die by age 12
Standard prognosis for aggressive childhood brain tumors
Very few children survived beyond 5 years in 1960s

Florence’s Role: Mother and Physician

Dual Crisis

Florence as mother:

Faced every parent’s nightmare: child with cancer
Youngest of five sons diagnosed with terminal illness
Emotional trauma of possible loss
Maintaining hope while preparing for worst

Florence as physician:

Internal medicine expertise helped understand diagnosis
Medical knowledge to evaluate treatment options
Navigate medical system effectively
Communicate with specialists in professional language
Advocate for Terry based on medical understanding

Medical Expertise Advantage

Florence’s physician status likely helped Terry’s survival:

Access to best specialists (professional network)
Understanding treatment protocols (informed decisions)
Recognizing complications early (medical training)
Asking right questions (clinical expertise)
Managing long-term care (medical background)

Personal Cost

Practicing medicine while son fights cancer:

Emotional toll of continuing to work
Professional knowledge makes prognosis devastatingly clear
Maintaining composure with patients while son dying
Single mother (divorced) handling crisis alone
Four other sons needing attention while Terry fights for life

Treatment Journey (1966-1971)

Initial Treatment

Likely included (based on 1960s protocols):

Neurosurgery to remove tumor (if operable)
Radiation therapy to kill remaining cancer cells
Hospital stays in Honolulu
Follow-up scans monitoring recurrence
Managing side effects of treatment

Side Effects and Complications

1960s brain tumor treatment caused:

Cognitive impacts from radiation
Growth and development delays
Neurological effects from surgery
Physical limitations from treatment
Emotional trauma from childhood illness

Five-Year Mark (1971)

Terry reaches age 12:

Survived beyond prognosis - unexpected outcome
Medical miracle in 1960s context
Family’s faith and hope rewarded
But long-term effects remained

Living Beyond Prognosis (1971-2012)

41 Additional Years

After surviving the 5-year prognosis:

1971-1977: Teenage years (ages 12-18)
1977-1990s: Young adulthood, career development
1990s-2012: IT specialist career, family life
Total: 46 years from diagnosis to death (age 53)

Career: IT Specialist

Despite childhood brain tumor:

Developed IT skills and technical expertise
Employed as IT specialist (successful career)
Demonstrated cognitive resilience after radiation
Professional achievement despite early trauma

Quality of Life

Terry lived meaningful life:

Career in technology field
Family relationships maintained
Part of close-knit Loui brothers network
41 years of life doctors said wouldn’t happen

Impact on Family

On Florence (Mother)

Terry’s survival shaped Florence’s:

Medical practice perspective (miracles happen)
Advocacy for patients (hope vs. statistics)
Family priorities (appreciating every day)
Physician philosophy (prognosis not destiny)

From Florence’s perspective:

Medical knowledge gave her tools to help
But couldn’t protect her from parent’s worst fear
Terry’s survival vindicated hope over statistics
Worked into 80s - Terry predeceased her (died 2012, she died 2017)

On Four Brothers

Michael, Warren, William, Ronald watched:

Youngest brother fight cancer at age 7
Medical crisis dominated childhood
Terry’s survival taught resilience
Appreciation for health and life

Two brothers followed Florence into medicine:

William Loui: Oncologist/hematologist (treats cancer - Terry’s experience influenced?)
Direct connection to Terry’s experience

On Next Generation

Terry’s survival story taught grandchildren/nephews/nieces:

Medical prognoses are not certainties
Hope matters even when statistics grim
Family support crucial during medical crisis
Value every year of life

Medical Significance

Remarkable Outcome

46 years from diagnosis:

1966: Diagnosis at age 7, 5-year prognosis
1971: Survived to age 12 (beyond prognosis)
1980s: Survived to adulthood
1990s: Established career in IT
2000s: Continued working and living
2012: Death at age 53 (46 years after diagnosis!)

In context:

Exceeded prognosis by 820% (5 years → 46 years)
Survived 41 years beyond expected death
One of longest survival stories for 1960s pediatric brain tumor

What Changed?

Factors in Terry’s survival:

Treatment advances (even between 1966-1971, protocols improved)
Florence’s medical advocacy (optimal care coordination)
Quality medical care in Honolulu
Terry’s physical resilience
Family support system (five brothers, dedicated mother)
Tumor characteristics (possibly less aggressive than typical)

Still Shortened Life

Terry died at 53 (2012):

Average male life expectancy: ~76 years
Terry lost approximately 23 years to early death
Long-term effects of 1960s treatment (radiation damage)
Brain tumor likely contributed to death at 53
But lived 41 years longer than predicted

Comparison to Florence’s Medical Practice

Personal vs. Professional

Florence’s dual role:

As physician treating others:

Internal medicine practice
Decades of patient care
Professional composure and expertise
Evidence-based medicine

As mother treating son:

Personal emotional investment
Using medical knowledge for family
Navigating between hope and reality
Physician cannot treat own family objectively

Medical Knowledge as Burden and Blessing

Burden:

Florence knew exactly how grim prognosis was
Understood treatment side effects completely
Recognized every complication immediately
Couldn’t shield self with ignorance

Blessing:

Could advocate effectively for Terry
Understood medical terminology and options
Access to specialist network
Managed long-term care expertly

Terry’s Death (2012)

At Age 53

46 years after initial diagnosis
41 years beyond 5-year prognosis
Likely complications from childhood brain tumor/treatment
Predeceased mother Florence (who died 2017 at age 90)

Florence’s Loss

Terry’s death (2012) devastated Florence:

Mother should not outlive child
After 46 years, still lost him “too soon”
Florence continued working until her own death (2017)
Carried grief of losing youngest son

Family Mourning

Four surviving brothers lost Terry:

Michael, Warren, William, Ronald mourned youngest brother
Terry’s survival had been family’s miracle
Losing him at 53 still felt unfair after 46-year fight
Celebrated life that shouldn’t have happened

Legacy

Medical Miracle Story

Terry’s survival represents:

Hope against statistics (5 years → 46 years)
Power of advocacy (Florence’s medical expertise)
Treatment advances (even in 1966-1971 window)
Family resilience (supporting through crisis)
Life’s unpredictability (prognosis not destiny)

Impact on William’s Career Choice

William Loui became oncologist/hematologist:

Treats cancer patients (Terry’s disease)
Connection to brother’s childhood illness?
Family’s cancer experience influenced career?
Carries Terry’s story into his practice?

Florence’s Advocacy

Terry’s experience shaped Florence’s:

Patient advocacy (never give up hope)
Medical practice philosophy (statistics not destiny)
Support for families facing grim diagnoses
Appreciation for miracles in medicine

Family Values

Terry’s 46-year survival taught family:

Appreciate every day (Terry’s were bonus years)
Fight for those you love (Florence’s advocacy)
Hope matters (even when doctors pessimistic)
Medical knowledge is power (Florence’s expertise helped)
Family support crucial during crisis

In Florence’s Own Words

From obituaries and family accounts:

Florence’s medical practice continued even during Terry’s illness
Her dedication to patients never wavered despite personal crisis
Advocacy for women in medicine included supporting families facing medical crises
Terry’s survival vindicated her belief in hope and aggressive treatment

Unanswered Questions

About Terry’s illness:

What type of brain tumor specifically?
What treatment protocol was used?
Which Honolulu hospital/specialists?
What side effects did Terry experience?
How did tumor affect his development?

About Florence’s role:

How did she balance practice and Terry’s care?
Did she take time off from practice?
How did she manage four other sons during crisis?
Did medical colleagues support her?
How did this affect her medical philosophy?

About Terry’s adult life:

Where did Terry work as IT specialist?
Did he marry or have children?
What were his interests and passions?
How did childhood cancer affect his adult life?
What was cause of death in 2012?

About family impact:

How did four brothers support Terry?
Did William’s career choice connect to Terry’s illness?
How did family celebrate Terry beating prognosis?
What family traditions emerged from this experience?

Research Opportunities

Medical records (if available):

Diagnosis and pathology reports
Treatment protocols used
Scans showing tumor over 46 years
Medical notes from Florence’s perspective

Family memories:

Michael, Warren, William, Ronald’s recollections
Childhood memories of Terry’s illness
Florence’s conversations about Terry’s case
Family celebrations of survival milestones

Historical context:

1960s pediatric brain tumor survival rates
Treatment advances 1966-1971
Honolulu medical facilities and specialists
Long-term outcomes for childhood cancer survivors

Terry Loui’s 46-year survival after a 5-year prognosis represents one of the most extraordinary medical stories in the Loui family, demonstrating the power of hope, medical advocacy, and family resilience against devastating odds. His mother Florence’s medical expertise and unwavering dedication helped Terry exceed expectations by 820%, living 41 years beyond doctors’ predictions.

Loui Family

Explorer