Christian Nolen was awake and playing guitar as his brain was being operated on. Neurosurgeons from the University of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center explained the surgery was performed while Nolen was awake to make sure his hand function was not harmed. Nolen was only awake for part of the surgery, which was two and a half hours. Nolen found out about the brain tumor when his brain swelled after someone who was stage diving at a concert fell on him.
