Laura Mooney
Arts Editor

OC) the years, Youlube has
provided the world with

a multitude of entertaining and
informative videos. Everything from
funny cats to how to cut your own hair
has been uploaded and shared with
the continuously growing community,
but on 17 September 2013, perhaps
one of the most compelling videos
ever seen was uploaded and shared
with the world. A man by the name
of Charles Triopy was diagnosed
with brain tumors back in 2012, and
had already gone through one
intense brain surgery to remove them.
However, in the summer of 2013,
Charles found out that the brain

tumors were back and he would have

to undergo brain surgery once again,
although this time, he would make
things a bit more interesting. Charles
picked up his camera, proposed his
idea to his surgeons very nicely, and
then proceeded to film his own brain
surgery.

Charles Trippy along with his wife,
Alli, formed their YouTube channel
CTFxC (Charles Trippy Family Core)
in 2008, with plans to do daily vlogs
for at least one year straight. Rapidly,
one year turned into five and soon
they became one of the top vlogging

channels on Youtube. With their videos
following them through the most simple

daily pleasures like playing with their
beloved dogs, Zoey and Marley,
to Charles proposal to Alli and the

wedding itself, and even Charles
going on tour all over the world as a
bass player for the band We the Kings.
CIFxC had gained nearly 800,000
subscribers by the time Charles was
diagnosed with the tumors, and while
in 2012, during the first brain surgery,
the couple had chosen not to share
too much footage, they knew that
this time there was no sense trying

to protect their loyal audience from
the realness and severity of the
situation.

Since Charles was going to be awake
during the operation, he saw it as the
perfect opportunity to share one of the
most personal things he had ever gone
through with the CIFxC audience,
many of whom had been following
Charles ever since he was doing
comedy skits back in 2006. He had
always said the CIFxC community was
really more like a family than any other
community on Youlube, and because

of that he felt they should be a part

of this moment. The video itself comes
in two versions, one edited version
where you do not actually get fo see
the brain along with the removed
tumor, and one that shows every little
gory detail. Most of the video is shot
by Charles himself, and when he got
too tired from holding up the camera
or wanted to get a better angle, a few
kindly surgeons rose to the occasion
and took over filming for him. The video
shared everything from the steps
leading up to the procedure and even
the attermath when he is still under
the influence of the pain medication,

and provided an intimate look into
what really goes on with brain surgery
patients.

The video entitled simply, “Man Films
Own Brain Surgery” was featured on
multiole news websites and even a
couple of news stations, and quickly
reached nearly 2 million views,
securing its viral video status. It also
propelled CIFxC to well over 1 million
subscribers, a rarity often not seen for
vlogging channels. Although the video
was positively received for the most
part, it also opened doors and raised
question about what you should or
should not put online, and the motives
behind filming such a personal part

of your own life. Many of the more
negative comments chose fo focus

on the fact that this video did gain
Charles many more hits on his channel
and the video itself, saying that he
only filmed it to gain popularity. Others
questioned why he would choose to
put this on the internet when so many
of his viewers are younger teens and
even pre-teens, stating that someone
so young should not be viewing things
like brain surgery. Despite all of the
negativity however, both Charles and
Alli have stated that the purpose of
their channel was to share their daily
lives, no matter how sad or personal
they may become. They knew how
much the audience cared about them,
and both agreed that sharing this
moment of their lives was a necessity,
and despite the negativity that would
surround it their true fans would be
there for them no matter what.

Although the brain surgery video itself
is hard to watch, perhaps even more
so are the videos posted in the days
after the surgery, during Charles’
recovery. Since the tumor was so

large and deep into his brain, Charles
lost most of his motor function in his
left hand and was not able to speak
properly for a couple weeks. The daily
vlogs documented his entire recovery
and his frustration with not being able
to use his hand or communicate the
way he wanted to, all the way to the
paintul discovery that the tumor was
cancerous and Charles would have to
begin chemotherapy.

Even though some of the videos were
nearly too heartbreaking to watch,

it was still something not often seen

on Youlube; a truly honest portrayal

of a family going through a crisis,

and the heartwarming support that
came from a community of complete
strangers from around the world.

So although the cat videos may be
entertaining, there is something to be
said about letting in the world to see
your struggles, and putting a video out
there that no one would have ever
expected to see. Even though Charles
and Alli have a long road ahead of
them, they have vowed to keep up
with their daily vlogs, knowing that the
CIFxC community is their extended
family, and will support them no matter
what. It is through this that we can see
the true power of a social media site,
and can only hope that the positivity
continues on into the future.