Anderson Family Fundraiser

On March 13, in the middle of the night, Russ Anderson had a seizure.  He was rushed to the ER and diagnosed with a meningioma – a benign brain tumor – the size of a tennis ball.  It is suspected that his tumor has been silently growing for 30 years.   After his seizure Russ continued to experience extreme pain in his arms and shoulders.  Doctors told him it was from the muscle spasm and recommended physical therapy.  On April 3 he underwent a craniotomy to remove the tumor.  The neurosurgeon said it was actually softball size and was one of the largest he’d seen.  Russ was released from the hospital several days later, the surgery a success.  Two weeks later he was readmitted to the ICU for brain swelling, a potentially fatal complication.  Russ was released five days later.  Throughout this time his shoulder pain continued.  In May he had an MRI and it was discovered that during his initial seizure he had dislocated both of his shoulders.  Walking around for two months with dislocated shoulders had caused severe bone damage and would require surgical repair.  At the end of May, Russ had reparative shoulder surgery on his right shoulder.  The surgery went well but three days after he was admitted to the ICU yet again for blood clots in his leg and lungs.  Little did we know at the time that only 30% of people with a pulmonary embolism survive.  But Russ is healthy and strong and again pulled through.  His second shoulder surgery will has been postponed until he has been on blood thinners for three months.  Unfortunately, there is little they can do about the pain for that dislocated shoulder.

Russ is 40 years old and has two little boys, Cooper (age 5) and Tucker (age 3).  His wife, Shannon, is 30 weeks pregnant with their third child, a girl.  All money raised will help them pay for medical expenses, make up for lost wages, and help pay for Shannon’s maternity leave.  Though the last three months has been hard on them, they have been repeatedly comforted by the kindness and support of their friends, family, coworkers, and even strangers.  The acts of generosity they have received has moved them to tears, and they are beyond grateful for the large and small acts of kindness they’ve received.  Thank you so much for your support of the Anderson family.