Selena Campione, a mother of two from Stanhope, New Jersey, was faced with the terrifying news that she would need to undergo brain surgery while awake. Initially, Campione was scared out of her mind when she learned about the surgery, as she was unaware that it was possible to have brain surgery while conscious. However, with the help of neurosurgeon Dr. Nitesh Patel, Campione found a surprising way to overcome her fears and navigate through this challenging situation.
Campione’s journey began when she started experiencing numbness and tingling on the right side of her body, affecting her ability to talk, walk, and use her right arm and hand. After seeing multiple specialists, she was diagnosed with a low-grade glioma, a slow-growing tumor on the left side of her brain. Dr. Patel proposed an awake craniotomy to remove the tumor, as keeping patients awake during such surgeries helps doctors understand what areas of the brain to avoid touching.
During the procedure, Campione was required to sing Taylor Swift songs to help Dr. Patel determine if he was getting close to a critical area of her brain, such as the part responsible for speech and motor capabilities. Campione’s daughters were excited at the opportunity for their mother to sing along to Taylor Swift’s songs, especially since they are frequently played in their home. Dr. Patel used this method as a way to test Campione’s memory and ensure that she would be able to sing along without any errors.
With the support of Dr. Patel and the music of Taylor Swift, Campione successfully underwent the awake craniotomy. While she recalls hearing “Shake It Off” during the procedure, she sang along to other hits such as “22,” “Bad Blood,” and “You Need to Calm Down.” Despite the complexity of brain surgery, Dr. Patel believes that incorporating humor into the process can help patients cope and feel more at ease during such a challenging time.
Following the surgery, Campione began to feel fantastic and was able to decrease the amount of medication she was taking. While the experience caused her to miss important events such as her daughter’s birthday and her work as a private school teacher, Campione is grateful for the successful outcome and the support she received from Dr. Patel and his team. By facing her fears head-on and utilizing music as a way to navigate through the surgery, Campione’s story serves as an inspiring example of resilience and courage in the face of adversity.
