Sometimes your body starts sending signals long before anyone can explain them.

Dizziness. Disorientation. A sense that something is deeply wrong, even when tests come back “normal.”

In this episode of Blind Spots, Charles Young shares what it was like to live inside that uncertainty, and how listening to his instincts ultimately saved his life.

Host Gayle MacDonald sits down with Charles Young to explore his experience of living with a rare, benign brain tumor that went undiagnosed for years. What began as unexplained vertigo and nausea eventually escalated into psychosis, hospitalization, and emergency brain surgery.

Charles reflects on navigating the healthcare system, losing his career overnight, and facing the emotional aftermath of survival. This is not a story about easy answers. It is a grounded conversation about self-advocacy, recovery, and how perspective can shift after trauma.

What You’ll Hear or Learn

What it feels like when your symptoms are real, but answers are slow to come
How psychosis showed up and what awareness looked like from the inside
The moment Charles chose to actively participate in his recovery
Letting go of negative self-talk during illness and healing
Grieving the loss of a career while building a different kind of life
Why connection matters more than isolation during long-term illness
How sharing your story can help others feel less alone

About Charles

Charles Young is a former educator and senior leader in learning and development with

the Government of Alberta. Raised on a family farm in rural Alberta, he built a career

rooted in service, teaching at NorQuest College and Grant MacEwan College before

moving into provincial leadership roles supporting staff development across multiple

ministries.

Charles’s life changed dramatically when he was diagnosed with a rare colloid brain

cyst that caused severe neurological and psychological symptoms. After a high‑risk

seven‑hour brain surgery at the University of Alberta Hospital, he began a long recovery

journey marked by resilience, determination, and what he calls his “great reset.”

Now nearly two years post‑surgery, Charles embraces a healthier lifestyle, prioritizes

mental well‑being, and openly shares his story to help others facing medical or mental

health challenges. He is an active member of global colloid cyst support groups, offering

hope and encouragement to people navigating similar diagnoses.

Known by friends for his newfound gentleness, perspective, and gratitude, Charles

advocates for connection, self‑advocacy, and the importance of strong health benefits

and early life planning. Though legally disabled and unable to return to work, he

describes his life today as meaningful, connected, and better than before.

Connect With Charles Young

Listen with curiosity. Reflect on where you may need to trust your instincts more deeply. And if this conversation resonates, consider sharing it with someone who may be navigating illness or recovery quietly.