Piano professor has new outlook on life after emergency brain surgery
Music Professor Alexandra Mascolo-David can be found in room 275 in the Music Building researching, holding piano lessons with students and practicing.
Ten chairs face two sleek, black pianos amid surrounding bookshelves where her students come for lessons from the woman who has released three albums featuring the work of Brazilian composer Francisco Mignone.
No one would guess less than a year ago, she had emergency brain surgery to close an aneurysm.
“I can say that my experience was nothing short of a miracle,” Mascolo-David said. “I am a very lucky person for having survived this experience and for having had another chance at life.”
Last fall, while promoting her latest album, she began having severe headaches. She told her husband she had a premonition of a health-related problem. She decided to make a call to her doctor, Aditya Pandey, of the University of Michigan Health System.
Two days after the release of her album, she was diagnosed with the aneurysm.
Less than a month passed between diagnosis and the aftermath of 60 to 65 staples in her head following the surgery.
After she had recovered from surgery, her surgeon said her aneurysm had another smaller aneurysm on top of it. If she had not had immediate surgery, the second aneurysm would have burst within a week, Mascolo-David said.
“The fact that I escaped death by a few days changed my life forever. Priorities have shifted,” Mascolo-David said. “Life is simply about love and the connections you forge with fellow human beings."
"True happiness does not result from achieving a successful career, from owning lots of money or from living on a fantastically beautiful spot on earth. Happiness comes from the ability to be content wherever you are, doing whatever you do. It comes from living in the present and from appreciating every moment.”
Reactions and support
Robert Fanning, professor of English language and literature, has known Mascolo-David for several years.
“The day I heard the news from her via email, I put in her CD and listened to it,” Fanning said. “I was deeply worried for her, but what amazed me was how utterly calm and composed she was before her surgery, even making jokes about it.”
Fanning said seeing her since her surgery, one would never know all that has happened.
“I will think of her grace and poise if I’m ever faced with such a challenge,” Fanning said. “Alexandra is a terrific model of calm and courage. The music in her is too strong to be silenced.”
Randi L’Hommedieu, school of music department chairman, said Mascolo-David’s biggest concern was her students.
“Alexandra’s colleagues were eager to help cover her absence and we did a bit of reassigning for the semester,” L’Hommedieu said in an email. “Dr. Mary Jo Cox, a marvelous pianist who often teaches and accompanies for the school of music, took over Alexandra’s applied piano studio and did a great job for us.”
L’Hommedieu said he was shocked when he realized the gravity of the situation.
“I’ve ceased to be surprised by what Alexandra can accomplish when she sets her mind to something,” L’Hommedieu said. “Her recovery following surgery was difficult and took longer than anticipated, but she returned this fall in full vigor. She’s a remarkably strong, resilient person.”
One of the reasons Rothbury junior Annamarie Schmidt came to Central Michigan University was to study with Mascolo-David.
“The thought of losing such a special, loving and outright fabulous teacher was horrifying to me,” Schmidt said. “Yet, while I was scared, Dr. David, through her words and actions, showed me another way to look at life. She conveyed that even when faced with death, one can still be courageous, strong, determined, loving, patient and have a positive outlook on life.”
Salma Ghanem, dean of the College of Communications and Fine Arts, was worried when she heard about the diagnosis.
“I am so glad and relieved that she is doing well,” Ghanem said in an email. “She is a great asset to CMU and we are very happy that she is back teaching our students.”
School of Music Graduate Assistant Joana Simão planned to come to CMU from Portugal to study with Mascolo-David before her surgery. She was able to study with her two months after the surgery, Simão said.
“She has already changed my life,” Simão said. “She has been more than just a fantastic piano teacher — she has also been a huge support to me as a human being, because it has been very difficult for me to adapt to life in the U.S.”
After the surgery
Mascolo-David said she had some short-term memory and speech and motor issues, but has recovered those abilities completely.
“Thankfully, loss of piano memory was never an issue,” she said.
She had the capacity to remember previously-memorized compositions and it was similar to riding a bike again. There are some skills that one does not forget, she said.
“I’m having an increased memory facility for contemporary music,” Mascolo-David said.
Mascolo-David’s memory of 20th to 21st century contemporary atonal music has improved since before the surgery.
The experience taught her to balance her life to make time for herself. She is no longer obsessed with work.
She said her parents instilled in her a strong work ethic, so it took something as serious as emergency brain surgery for her to take a break to re-evaluate her life.
“I really want to thank everyone in this community, university and everyone that was rooting for me...everyone who made my will for living so much stronger,” she said.
Mascolo-David said after her surgery, she is a calmer, wiser person.
“We are easily compelled to complain without looking on the other side,” Mascolo-David said. “We tend to look at what we don’t have. Learning to appreciate what we have is key to having a good life.”
Mascolo-David’s first post-surgery recital will be held Mar. 29, featuring pieces composed for her and for others by living composers.
“When such a traumatic, near-death event happens, you begin looking at life differently," she said. "Suddenly, you no longer take anything for granted because you do not know for how long you will have it.”
