Musician Who Played During Brain Op Dies at 38

Carlos Aguilera, a 38-year-old musician renowned for his brave performance during a 12-hour brain tumor surgery, has tragically passed away. In October 2015, at the age of 27, Aguilera played his saxophone for a medical team of 16 professionals at Malaga's Carlos Haya Hospital. This groundbreaking procedure, reportedly the first of its kind in Europe, aimed to remove a tumor while the patient remained awake.

The Malaga Municipal Band, where Aguilera had been a trainee for a decade, confirmed his death and remembered him as a shining example of resilience. Tributes from friends and colleagues lauded his fighting spirit and his ability to face his illness with such remarkable fortitude. He had expressed feeling reborn and chose to play music during his operation, stating it had accompanied him for most of his life.

During the 2015 surgery, Aguilera was sedated and given painkillers but remained awake without general anesthesia. He was asked to read a musical score to ensure his well-being. Neurosurgeon Guillermo Ibanez explained the unusual approach was taken because Aguilera's professional career depended on his musical ability. Aguilera began playing the saxophone at age nine and described the experience of being operated on while playing as feeling like he was lying on a beach.