June 23, 2010, Hamilton had brain surgery to prevent the recurrence of the benign tumor discovered in 2004. Called craniopharyngioma, the tumor could have caused blindness if left untreated. The surgery was successful. In November 2010, Hamilton was in the hospital again. During the removal of the tumor, an artery in the brain was "nicked". The bleeding stopped, but an aneurysm formed days later. Hamilton came through the surgery well. In 2016, Hamilton announced that he had received his third brain tumor diagnosis. In late March 2017, he stated that the tumor had shrunk without chemo. Charitable work In 1990, as the Make-A-Wish Foundation honored its 10th birthday, Hamilton was recognized as the Foundation's first ever "Celebrity Wish Granter of the Year." He founded the Scott Hamilton Cares Foundation to assist with cancer patient support. He has been a longtime volunteer with the Special Olympics and currently serves as a Special Olympics Global Ambassador. Hamilton has also helped benefit St. Jude's Children's Hospital and the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation, of which he is an honorary board member. Political views In 2012, Hamilton made public appearances in support of the presidential campaign of Republican Mitt Romney. He has also spoken in support of Donald Trump, and appeared in an episode of Celebrity Apprentice. Awards and recognition 1985 – Hamilton was presented the 1984 Most Courageous Athlete Award by the Philadelphia Sports Writers Association. 1993 - The Associated Press released results of a national sports study in which Hamilton ranked as one of the top eight most popular athletes in America, ranking far ahead of big-name sports stars such as Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Troy Aikman, Dan Marino, Wayne Gretzky, Joe Montana, and Nolan Ryan. 1996 - Hamilton was presented the United States Sports Academy's Mildred "Babe" Didrikson Zaharias Courage Award in recognition of his courageous action in overcoming adversity to excel in sport. 1996 - Hamilton received the Academy of Achievement Golden Plate Award. Programs Competition results References Further reading External links 1958 births Living people American adoptees American male single skaters Bowling Green State University alumni Figure skaters at the 1980 Winter Olympics Figure skaters at the 1984 Winter Olympics Figure skating commentators Hononegah Community High School alumni Olympic Games broadcasters Olympic figure skaters of the United States Olympic gold medalists for the United States in figure skating Participants in American reality television series Sportspeople from Toledo, Ohio World Figure