WSMV reports that during a patrol last month, Greenbrier, Tennessee police officer Matthew Hillis suffered a sudden seizure that caused him to crash his patrol SUV into a local resident’s home. While Hillis miraculously avoided life-threatening injuries from the accident, hospital doctors discovered that the seizure was caused by an apple-sized brain tumor he had previously been unaware of.

Just three days after the crash, Hillis underwent surgery to remove the mass and began a challenging recovery process to regain his speech, which initially left him unable to talk or understand others. On his way home from the hospital, he made a point to visit the homeowner—who was fortunately uninjured—to apologize for the damage, though she graciously refused to accept his apology.

Weeks later, as his speech continues to improve, Hillis is sharing his story to raise awareness about the severe headaches he experienced leading up to the incident but dismissed. Ultimately, his wife Natasha noted that the crash was a blessing in disguise, as finding the tumor when they did ultimately saved his life.