Jose "Pepe" Diaz Recalls Horror Of Brain Tumor Diagnosis

SWEETWATER (CBS4) - Miami-Dade County Commissioner Jose "Pepe" Diaz proudly shows off his scar, after the tumor removed from his brain last month tested benign.

"It's not too small," said Diaz. "It was a pretty massive operation."

Diaz went under the knife after complaining to his doctor that he was suffering from blinding headaches. He spent several days at Baptist Hospital last month recovering from the operation, and just this week received the news that the golf ball sized tumor was not cancerous.

"I just prayed to god and left it in his hands and said you know what I think I have a lot to do yet and I have to take care of my family so give me a chance," Diaz told CBS4 I-Team investigator Jim DeFede.

Doctors say Diaz will have to undergo another cat scan in six months to make sure the tumor hasn't returned. He will also not take a full workload for several more weeks until he has fully recovered.

Through it all, Diaz kept his sense of humor.

"Biggest surprise for people that you actually had a brain to have a tumor in?" asked DeFede.

"Absolutely," laughed Diaz. "That's been the biggest joke so far."