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Allyson is our dear friend and coworker and our goal as her work family is simple: HELP! Allyson was diagnosed with Acoustic Neuroma which will require an extensive surgery to remove a tumor and time to recover. Please join us in easing the financial burden of unexpected medical bills, missed work, and living expenses that she and her family will incur over the next few months. We love Allyson and want her and her family to be able to focus on a successful surgery and recovery. Please read Allyson's story in her own words below:
"Hello my name is Allyson, thank you so much for taking the time to read about the medical journey I am currently on. In January of 2023 I woke up with what I thought was a clogged up right ear and I told myself it will go away on its own right? In March I had an annual visit at my primary doctor, I mentioned I was now having trouble hearing out of that ear along with tinnitus. She performed a hearing test, my score was below normal so I was referred to the ENT. Finally got an appointment at the beginning of June, they could not see anything psychic
ally, so the ENT doctor ordered an MRI. I had the MRI done at the end of June. The first week of July I received a call from the ENT doctor to inform me that I have a tumor. A Vestibular schwannoma, also known as an Acoustic Neuroma, is very rare. It’s a noncancerous tumor on the main nerve leading from the inner ear to the brain. Since having the MRI done I'm now at Duke with an ear specialist (Otolaryngology) and we have been monitoring since the summer. I had a repeat MRI and hearing test done at the end of October, it had slightly grown but the constant ringing and not being able to hear were getting worse. At my last visit my husband and I met with the Doctor for options. They suggest removal of the tumor because the bigger it gets the more issues it can cause because the tumor is surrounded by nerves (facial, vestibular, cochlear). Between discussions with the ear specialist and a neurosurgeon the best surgery option for me is to have a Translabyrinthine approach, which means removing the mastoid and inner ear structures to ensure that the tumor is completely removed. In the process, I will have to sacrifice the hearing in my right ear, meaning I will be deaf on the right side. The surgery itself is 6-8 hours long with a 4-5 day hospital stay and 6-8 weeks out of work.
This was a lot to process…physically, emotionally and now financially. As a 35 years old, this was not what I had in mind. This caught me off guard but I'm trying my best and giving it my all so I can be the best Mom, Wife and employee possible. It has been a year now and I had to come to terms with losing part of my hearing, it's like losing a bit of yourself and your senses.
Being out of work for that long is also something not planned on, as life has shown me. Any contributions that you graciously donate will go towards medical bills and being out of work for that extended amount of time. This is difficult for me to put out there. I've had a job or multiple jobs since I was 16 years old, being an independent type of person it's hard asking for help.
Thank you to everyone that has been with me thus far, my husband and son, my family and my work family. I do not know what I would do without these amazing people. Thank you for taking the time and consideration of learning about the medical situation I have at this moment in life. It is greatly appreciated and I thank you so much!!"
-Allyson
