Max Milton is hard to miss as he walks the halls of Thunderbolt Middle School. The tall, 36-year-old teacher with a toothy smile is the only adult in sight wearing what appears to be a hockey helmet.

Diana Parker/News-Herald Photo Max Milton's scalp shows the signs of two surgeries: one to remove a tumor and another to address an infection. A section of his scalp was removed in the second surgery.

Milton’s custom-made helmet is actually intended to protect his skull. An approximately 3-inch diameter section of it was removed because of an infection Milton suffered as he was recovering from surgery for a brain tumor.

Milton just completed his first full week back at school, teaching classes again and acting in his capacity as dean of students.

“It’s tiring,” Milton said Friday after teaching two sections of eighth-grade social studies. “I could go to bed right now and sleep for four hours.”

Milton said he had no awareness of the tumor that had largely taken over the right temporal lobe of this brain before he suffered a grand mal seizure about six months ago.

“April 28th I went to bed and I woke up in the morning April 29th with a paramedic standing over me,” he said. “I got flown to Vegas, and it’s been whirlwind ever since.”

The mostly benign, stage 2 tumor had been growing for about 10 years. The fact it was so slow growing allowed the left side of Milton’s brain to seamlessly assume much of the right side’s function, he said.

Because brain tumors are inclined to grow back, Milton must undergo a brain MRI every two months for the rest of his life. But overall the prognosis is good, Milton said.

“A couple of the doctors have said I’ll outlive them,” he said.

In the meantime, there are challenges and inconveniences. Milton still experiences a lot of fatigue, and he currently can’t drive because of a seizure he had in September.

And then there’s “the dent.”

“It’s a pain not having part of your skull,” he said.

Milton will have surgery in March to put in a synthetic plate.

A more long-lasting challenge will certainly be the financial burden his illness has brought on his family, which includes his wife, Monica, a son, Ross, 8, and a daughter, Tessa, 6.

The expense of nearly weekly trips to Phoenix has been added to astronomical medical bills. One surgeon’s bill alone came to $174,000, Milton said.

To give the Miltons’ some financial relief, friends and family members have organized Party to the Max, a fundraising fair, next Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Thunderbolt Middle School.

As many as 30 booths will offer games, activities and food, with proceeds going to the Milton family. There will be train rides, a bouncy house and even a car wash.

Direct donations can also be made to the Max Milton Medical Fund at Bank of America.

You may contact the reporter at dparker@havasunews.com.

If you go

Party to the Max

What: Fundraiser to benefit Thunderbolt Middle School teacher and dean of students Max Milton

When: Saturday, Nov. 15, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

Where: Thunderbolt Middle School field and basketball courts.