On January 2,Andrew Karpenheaded from his Connecticut home to the New York headquarters ofBleecker Street Media.
At his desk that day, he suddenly had difficulty typing with his right arm.
He called his doctor, figuring an appointment in the coming weeks was wise, before Sundance.
Jordan Strauss/Invision for Producers Guild of America/AP Images
He was told to get back on the train and head home, immediately.
That was the last time life felt normal.
The surgeon, whose work was featured in two Netflix docuseries, did more than a fine job.
This following a four hour surgery, and a course of chemotherapy and radiation.
It takes a month after you finish chemo and radiation to get your MRI, Karpen told me.
And two weeks ago, I got my MRI, and we called the doctor.
Ill let Pam tell you the rest.
We honestly never thought we would hear those words.
It was a perilous path chosen by Dr. Boockvar.
The first surgery was relatively brief, and the outlook not good.
The first surgeon could not get deep enough into the brain to remove much of the tumor.
It has been a road, Ill tell you, Pam said.
Andrew drew a pretty unlucky straw, Im going to be honest with you.
The [first surgeon was] pretty hesitant to even do surgery at all.
And with glioblastoma, if you do that…you die pretty quickly.
The loss of motor skills was a tell of how deep in the brain the tumor was.
For some people, a seizure is the thing that sends them to the doctor.
He never had a seizure.
They were afraid they would leave him completely paralyzed.
That led them to Dr. Boockvar.
His symptoms were getting worse and I didnt like what we were seeing, Pam said.
And his doctors werent really responding to me.
And then we found a new doctor, as extraordinary a human being as he is a surgeon.
He said, I really think I can help you.
Another surgery was a risk.
It is a full craniotomy, Pam said.
Youre going in with tools.
The Karpens have three children, Josh, Zack and daughter Sloan.
I got back some use of my right hand.
I was opening and closing it, but last week I lost it again.
Hes also recirculating within the industry.
Im so happy to be back working, living life.
I might even go to the city Thursday.
Im Zooming and FaceTime-ing and in touch with people and re-engaging.
We just dont know if it is months, years, or whatever.
Im thankful for my team that has stepped up because everybody believes in this company, he said.
What Ive learned is to appreciate every day, appreciate the people you love.
The outpouring from friends has been overwhelming.
Now, I wake up every day, and I focus on living.
But I appreciate every second, and I want to live as long as I can.
The Karpens do not labor under the illusion theyve put his crisis in the rearview mirror forever.
The tumor was a manifestation of a disease.
Andrew is grateful for the time, and has resolved to handle whatever may come.
Back in February, we werent sure.
That wasnt a given.
This way, Pam can send thank you notes.
