Drink the Wine: Political Consultant Brad Todd Faces Recurrent Cancer with Reflections on Priorities and Impermanence

Brad Todd, a veteran political strategist known for guiding Sen. Dave McCormick's 2024 campaign, has shared a deeply personal essay detailing his upcoming surgery for a recurrent high-grade malignant tumor in his ethmoid sinus at Johns Hopkins Hospital. The piece, originally published on his Substack 'The What For' as 'Drink the Wine' and cross-posted on ZeroHedge, draws parallels to his 2020 cancer battle, which was incidentally discovered during a COVID test. Todd reflects on how the first diagnosis reshaped his professional approach—limiting advice to essentials—and elevated family milestones above work obligations, including coaching his daughter's softball and attending nearly every game and event for his children. Sinus tumors like his are rare, affecting only hundreds annually. Post-surgery, he anticipates radiation and possible chemotherapy, along with potential loss of smell affecting his enjoyment of a curated Piemonte wine collection. The essay urges savoring life's 'stored' assets rather than deferring joy, framing cancer as a stark reminder that 'you cannot un-hear that your body is trying to kill you.' This narrative aligns with broader themes in cancer survivor literature, emphasizing perspective shifts seen in high-profile cases, while highlighting the exceptional medical expertise at Johns Hopkins Otolaryngology.