Doctor Recovers Cognitive Function After Brain Tumor Through Card Game

Trish Gordon, a doctor from Scotland, faced a life-altering diagnosis in 2013 when she was found to have a 10cm grade 2 oligodendroglioma on her left frontal lobe. The discovery followed a seizure she experienced while driving, just months after experiencing a physical collapse while examining a patient. At the time, she was given a prognosis of five to ten years to live.

Gordon underwent an eight-hour awake craniotomy in March 2014 to remove the tumor. While the surgery aimed to preserve critical brain functions, the aftermath significantly impacted her life. She described experiencing difficulties with simple tasks and profound grief for her previous life. Her cognitive challenges, particularly with finding words and communicating, led to her medical retirement in September 2015.

Despite the dark days, Gordon remained determined, especially as a single parent to her nine-year-old son. She found an unexpected path to recovery in the card game Bridge. Having played the game in her youth, she recognized its potential cognitive benefits, which are supported by research. A 2014 study from the University of Wisconsin-Madison indicated that frequent players of card games and puzzles exhibit larger brain volumes in key memory areas.

Gordon began taking lessons and quickly became engrossed in Bridge, noting that the game required memory, teamwork, and mathematical skills. She reported feeling sharper each week and more like her former self. After years of rehabilitation and consistent play, she successfully returned to medicine in 2020, undergoing rigorous testing to ensure her fitness for the role. The return to treating patients marked a significant milestone in her recovery.

Her health journey continued with further setbacks. The tumor recurred in 2022, necessitating another surgery. In 2024, a surgically inoperable area was identified, requiring radiotherapy and subsequent chemotherapy. Fortunately, she did not experience further cognitive complications. More than a decade after her initial diagnosis, Gordon feels back to full health and is working as a locum consultant, undergoing bi-annual check-ups.

Bridge remains an integral part of her life, serving as a significant social outlet and a source of continuous learning. Gordon emphasizes that a diagnosis does not signify an end but can be an opportunity for a new beginning. Her experience highlights the resilience of the human spirit and the unexpected ways recovery and a return to normalcy can be achieved.