A couple months ago I watched my Dad's health deteriorate to the point where he could no longer play guitar. It wasn't ever his livelihood but most certainly something that he loved doing. I guess in his words, he just couldn't make the notes work anymore. It's heartbreaking just seeing this from the outside, I can't imagine the actual turmoil of loosing the ability to do something you love.

Some conditions you can recover from and hop right back onto doing what you love with no impact. Sometimes you find yourself in a place where you have to relearn what used to be instinct. Sometimes you never get it back. Loosing our talents is something that we will all be faced with as we get older. It is the way of things. And it is unfortunate that it may happen sooner for some. The only advice I can give would be to diversify yourself. Don't let any one thing become your identity such that if you loose that one thing you have nothing to live for.

This is going to vary according to the person, the illness, the procedure, the medications, the duties. You have to make your own decision whether you should even try to continue with your schooling, or bail out until you're better. My recommendation is that you talk to your counselors and teachers at school, and of course your doctors. Make the right decision for you.
A decision grid might be helpful.

Decision grid is good. Reminds me of a paredo chart.

As an employer what's a reasonable phrase on a resume for something like this? "Disabled", "surgery", "brain tumor". Like, I'm going to have a multiple month period on my work history where it's blank, right now I just do side work construction stuff to survive. But it's 1099 sporadic work. Earlier this spring I worked in an office, but after 3 months it was apparent I can't interact with people all day (effectively) without just flaring up this extreme pain in the face/eye, and symptoms were much better back then.

The other thing is the waiting where you're not "officially" disabled. It's been 5 months since my MRI turned up a mass, and it's just been a constant wait to figure out what it is. They start with blood tests, ruling out organ problems, then a spinal tap to check spinal fluid for cancer, infection, etc anomalies, then try a treatment, then another MRI to see if it's going away with treatment, then surgery if it's not. I may end up trying radiation, another "wait and see" treatment killing more months.

I'm loving modern countries, in which you get painkillers which actually work!

Damn, 7 months after making this post I've been through a dozen drugs, some made me not even turn on my computer anymore. Even now oxycodone is nothing compared to tegretol and neurontin's effects on you. I just got referred to the surgeon a couple weeks ago who wants to do a craniotomy, and it just so happens to be my final semester in school.

The surgeon said to schedule when I'm ready, since I'm young he can get me in with 2 weeks notice, and I'm thinking I should just get it over with. Maybe get ahead in a few of my classes so I can be down a couple weeks recovering. But I think I'd be more productive in school afterwards not being on high doses of half a dozen drugs.

This sucks man. Thank you anyway for letting us know, I guess we all wish you the best!

Not only did I get brain surgery but also landed my first professional programming job using Unity 3d at a local studio.

I had brain surgery 2 days ago, Mon morning and I'm already home feeling good. These pics are from this morning when they took off my bandages before coming home:

I told the surgeon I wanted a cool scar out of it and he came through lol

But honestly I was so stressed out about no income and a long recovery but I got my dream job the week before surgery and since it's a new position at the company they said no problem if I don't start for a week or two. I should grow a mohawk lol

I'm told that after I got my wisdom teeth out, I did a "David after dentist" impression and then spat blood everywhere. I don't remember that bit, though I do remember still being awake enough to go to the bathroom after my third hit of whatever (oral) anaesthetic/amnesia-inducer they gave me and remarking on my way back that the walls seemed to be melting.

The next day I played StarCraft for a while and seemed to do okay. I guess if I'd had to code, I could have done so.

I have been putting off 2 surgeries since 2010, one is cosmetic and the other one although needed I can live without (for now).

Sadly the one I need will put me out of action for a few weeks, not only that I will be unable to drive too or exercise for a while, I think 6+ weeks and I may not be allowed to lift for a year :O. My solution was simply to put them off until I reach my goals, fortunately I am so close to the finish line now that I can smell the anaesthesia ;).

The surgery itself doesn't impact my programming projects for long, but it does massively affect all my physical tasks for a long time which is disappointing

Good luck with your recovery

I have been putting off 2 surgeries since 2010, one is cosmetic and the other one although needed I can live without (for now).

Sadly the one I need will put me out of action for a few weeks, not only that I will be unable to drive too or exercise for a while, I think 6+ weeks and I may not be allowed to lift for a year . My solution was simply to put them off until I reach my goals, fortunately I am so close to the finish line now that I can smell the anaesthesia ;).

The surgery itself doesn't impact my programming projects for long, but it does massively affect all my physical tasks for a long time which is disappointing

Good luck with your recovery

Life's too short, I'd just go for it and get it over with if it impacts your life at all. I had brain surgery and was typing and surfing the web from ICU within hours and went home after 2 nights.

Here's a pic of my scar I took last night, I'm not even taking that many painkillers anymore and it doesn't hurt too bad.

And I start my first programming job next Weds lol but luckily it's using Unity 3d and some javascript stuff (html5, phonegap, etc) and augmented reality stuff.

The surgeon gave me a pic of the problem, hard to know what it is but it's crazy that they sew stuff up in there:

Um, is that your eyeball?