Rallying around dad Family adjusts after father loses vision, job BY TOM JOHNSTON | STAFF WRITER
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Steve Alton had a brain tumor the size and shape of two conjoined golf balls surgically removed from his head earlier this year. In the process he suffered a stroke, lost his vision and his job.
"One of the nice things is, Steve hasn't complained once through the whole thing," his wife, Julie, said.
The family's medical bills are mounting; their main source of income is Julie's part-time job. Steve, 45, had only been working as assistant manager at Walgreen's for a few months, not long enough to qualify for disability.
Despite the frustration and heartbreak they have endured, Steve, Julie and their four children are persevering, drawing strength and inspiration from a Barrington-area community that has offered help in many ways.
"It's amazing," Steve said of the support his family has received. "It really is."
Life turns upside down
In late February, Steve, a longtime gymnastics coach in the area, was struck by a flu that just would not go away. On top of that, he started to have vision problems. It was as if a gray lens had been placed over one of his eyes, clouding his sight.
Steve and Julie finally got in to see a doctor on Feb. 28. Their children saw them off, not knowing that the next time they would see their father he would practically be a different person.
After performing a series of tests, an optometrist concluded that Steve's ailment was neurological. He also noticed that Steve was pale and didn't look healthy, so he sent Steve to Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital to see an emergency room physician.
There it was determined that Steve had completely lost vision in one eye and 80 percent of the sight in the other. Blood work showed he was anemic; the doctor took a CAT scan to investigate further.
What the doctor found was a large tumor that was pressuring Steve's pituitary gland, which, located in a small cavity at the base of the brain, secretes hormones that regulate various bodily functions. It was determined that the tumor had developed slowly over a period of five to 10 years.
Emergency surgery
Steve and Julie were told surgery was needed. They didn't initially know that meant Steve was going to be flown immediately, by helicopter, to the University of Illinois Medical Center at Chicago for an emergency operation.
Julie found herself driving downtown in the middle of the night; her kids were in the care of her mother-in-law. She arrived at the hospital at 2 a.m. March 1 to learn that Steve would undergo an "either/or" operation, meaning the tumor would be extracted either through his nose or his skull.
The first, less-invasive method, was the option chosen, but instead of collapsing and coming out the nose as planned, the tumor hemorrhaged. After eight hours of surgery, the doctors were forced to go at it again, this time by cutting through Steve's skull.
A stroke, loss of sight
Steve came out of the second surgery after another eight hours without the tumor, which was not cancerous, but he had suffered a stroke and was rendered legally blind.
"Basically the doctors would have to spend two weeks just keeping (Steve) alive," Julie said.
In addition to the loss of sight, Steve has not yet fully recovered his cognitive skills. He can speak fairly fluently, but some sentences are interspersed with a word or two that doesn't quite fit. He also didn't recognize an old friend who picked him up to take him to a yoga class.
The most frustrating thing, Steve said, is having sight problems, although there have been some positive signs. For instance, when he recently was at Good Shepherd, where he goes three times a week for speech, physical and occupational therapy, he was able to tell that the carpet was purple.
"It's weird. Sometimes I can see some things and sometimes I can't," Steve said. "It's odd. It really is."
Family pulls together
The Alton children, Jayme, 15, Jenna, 12, Leslie, 11, and Steven, 4, have also had to make adjustments. At least one of the older children has to be home with their father to help him when their mother is away. Steve needs help getting from room to room. He needs to be consistently hydrated and fed properly. He needs medications.
But one of the most difficult things, said Jayme, is trying to keep her dad entertained. A lifelong athlete, he always wants to do more than his condition will allow. But on Sunday, his birthday, the family went to see a movie, and Steve, despite his poor vision, had a good time.
"It was fun," he said.
One of the positive aspects of the experience is it has forced the family, whose children are active in sports, camps and other activities, to slow down a little and appreciate their time together, Julie said.
"Steve's birthday was (Sunday)," she said. "That was hard, but when you think about the alternative, we're lucky he's here."
Help from many people
The Altons also feel very lucky to be benefiting from the generosity of so many people in their community. Their neighbors have driven the kids to wherever they need to be, organized grocery and meal deliveries, and set up fund-raisers, including a multi-house garage sale.
"I had no idea we knew so many people before this," Jenna said.
They have received support from their congregation, the Presbyterian Church of Barrington, and many area organizations, including the Barrington Area Soccer Association and the Barrington Park District. Culver's and Dinner by Design in Lake Zurich have also raised money for their cause.
Despite the stress her husband's condition has put on her, Julie said she has been able to remain positive because of the community support.
"There are a couple of ways I can look at it," Julie said. "I can either complain and gripe about things, or I can move forward and be thankful for all the help we have received."
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