I have been praying over this for quite some time. The day before Christmas Eve, I got the call from Dr. Linskey’s scheduler to schedule surgery (I felt like it was God saying, “Merry Christmas Rosemary. This is what the waiting has been for.). I had started the process of reaching out about this months ago and figuring out when the best time to go was (between my kids’ sports and birthdays and other milestones) and not miss the big stuff. I wasn’t pushy about it. I waited. I let go and let God. It truly fell in perfect timing. On April 5th, I will fly to CA and have my pre op with Dr. L on April 6th along with 2 other tests. And, on April 9, I will undergo my 5th brain surgery. It will be the first and with great hope and prayer, the only one needed to provide relief to the trigeminal, genticulate and glossopharyngeal neuralgias on the left side of my face. Five years ago, I was diagnosed with trigeminal neuralgia. It’s a rare (1-8 in 200,000 people are diagnosed yearly) and it’s documented as the worst pain known to mankind. It is also known as the “Suicide disease” because many take their own lives bc the pain is just too much. It is without cure. Medications often lose their effect or are not helpful at all and then surgery is often the next step. Within 6 months of being diagnosed, I had my first brain surgery. I was not in the right hands. By December of 2016, I also had glossopharyngeal (causing shocks to my throat, ear and tongue when I swallowed, talked, laughed, yawned, etc.), genticulate (the feeling of a hot poker in my ear all the time and the sound of my own voice hurts me), and occipital (pain and burning in my neck, scalp and head) neuralgias, each more rare than the next. I also have anesthesia dolorosa, the dreaded outcome of a surgery performed to numb the right side of my face, tongue, mouth, teeth., etc. which left me with 24/7 burning and crushing pain in every numb area and a permanent feeding tube. Each carry their own hosts of symptoms and triggers which leave me with no comfort zones. Air, weather, heat, cold, rain, brushing my teeth, talking, laughing, smiling, any kind of touching my face or my hair, kissing, etc., cause incredible pain (i still practice good hygiene. No cavities.). About 2.5 years ago, the trigeminal, glossopharyngeal, genticulate and occipital neuralgias progressed to the left side. Having an entire face and head in these conditions is a very harsh way of existing. I have a very beautiful yet limited life. I exist in pain and live by choosing joy. It’s a constant tug-o-war of joy and pain each day. Two years ago Dr. Linskey attempted to offer relief on the already very complex right side of my brain and it failed. It was a giant leap of faith that we knew could go either way. It was a great defeat. AND YET, I still hold onto hope and believe in Dr. Linskey with everything in me to give me relief on the untouched left side of my face, ear and throat. I feel like God has opened the door. The past two years of waiting in agony with both sides of my face and head has led me here. It is a heck of a thing to say yes to brain surgery again given all that I have been through, all that my family has been through AND YET, here I am, saying yes. These are the diseases that bring so much pain with them that a person asks for brain surgery in search of relief. I am at that point and I feel it’s all in God’s timing. Now, I come to you again to please help me get there. Bardie and I will fly from KY to Orange, CA where I will have surgery at the UCI Medical Center. I need help with three weeks living expenses in a hotel and transportation. And there are the medical expenses including deductibles and copays. Any amount you have to offer is more than appreciated. The last time I went and each follow up was covered by GoFundMe and I was and still am overwhelmed by generosity and grace that was afforded to me and my family. I have prayed over this for a long time. I have noticed every God wink and tiny spectacular along the way that has led me here. I am in awe of how much joy has intertwined with the pain and how much hope and faith still remains despite the grief. My family and I are asking for your prayers and for help financially to help return me to Dr. Linskey to perform this surgery. He is the leading neurosurgeon in the country that specializes in these diseases. People come from all over the country to be treated by him. And now, it’s my turn on April 9, 2020.