A Mom's Journey: Overcoming Health and Hardship

So, eight years ago, I was pregnant with my son and my right side went numb like I had had a stroke. My gynecologist told me that my son was on a nerve, which was what could have been causing my weakness on the right side. I low-key really think she thought I was faking because cocaine kept showing up in my bloodstream. I have never done cocaine a day in my life, and to this day, no one can tell me how or why it kept showing up in my system.

On October 2, 2017, I gave birth to a healthy baby boy, and the right-sided weakness only got worse. My face dropped, my right wrist turned in towards my body slightly, and before I went into the hospital, I was walking with sort of a limp because my right foot would drag. From what I can remember, they sent me for an MRI that night and found a mass with “significant” size, and I was rushed to Carilion Memorial Hospital in Roanoke, Virginia. My son, being hours old, had to remain at Sovah Health here in Martinsville, Virginia. I underwent my first craniotomy on October 8, 2017. I went to rehab until October 18th for physical, cognitive, and behavioral therapy to relearn how to walk again and to regain the motor function in my hand. My biggest motivation was getting back home to my newborn son, daughter, and husband.

After a few years of bi-annual MRIs, on April 8, 2020, I underwent my second craniotomy and a round of radiation, which had no effect. Another couple of years of bi-annual MRIs, and I underwent my third surgery on July 25, 2022. During all of this, I was on Medicaid because of my pregnancy in the beginning, and it continued because of my health issues. However, I’ve been trying to make my own way and work even though everyone told me that I should get on disability. Last year, at the end of October, I got a letter saying my Medicaid was ending because I make too much money. My insurance at work did not cover enough of my needs for my bi-annual scans, so I went with a private insurance company. I explained to the person I spoke with who was setting it up what I needed it for, and they told me that my MRIs would be covered. But when I went to get my last one on April 10, they told me that my insurance would only cover 80% of it, leaving me to pay about $4,000 out of pocket. I have it rescheduled for May 22, but I really can’t afford it. I need some guidance on the next steps to take. I’ve never been a person with real motivation, and from what I CAN remember, I’ve always been a procrastinator, so any push in the right direction for some assistance in Virginia would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for reading my story…. This is me!!!