David Barbee - Pituitary Tumor
When Houstonian David Barbee was in his 20's, he lived life in the fast lane. "I was a speed freak, always racing boats and driving fast cars," he says. A pituitary tumor brought that life to a screeching stop--at least temporarily.
After a bout of food poisoning, David heeded his mother's wishes and got a full round of medical testing. "While at the hospital, my doctor noticed my unusually large hands and called in a neurosurgeon," he says. "The next thing I know, I'm at M. D. Anderson!" Surgeons removed a tumor from his pituitary gland, which was wreaking havoc with his hormones and causing enlarged hands, swollen facial features and fluid buildup. "Even though my pituitary tumor was benign, I wouldn't have lived past my early 30's if it hadn't been diagnosed," says David.
While he may have slowed down a bit, David still indulges his passion for fast cars and fast boats, and has learned how to enjoy life. "As a retailer, I was very much a workaholic, but my tumor made me realize there's so much more to life than my job. Now, I force myself and my assistants to take weekends off, enjoy it and recharge. After all, you never know how much longer you'll be around."