Dee’s Brain Tumor

 

Those of us fortunate enough to have Dee Fretwell in their life know her to be a person with boundless energy who is always looking for ways to help others, and to give to the community. Whether it be as a fun loving mom to her three kids, a promoter of music in the valley, countless hours spent supporting non-profits, or most recently working as a business professor and nurturing her students to achieve their goals, Dee shows up leading with her authentic heart. It is now time for all of us to be there for her and her family.

 

Dee spent a couple of years fighting docs who dismissed her symptoms as “just peri menopause” even though hormone testing said it wasn’t. They inched a little closer last April thinking it’s was a lowly pituitary tumor. It turns out this was all wrong. On Monday Feb 21, Dee was diagnosed with a brain tumor.

 

It’s called a meningioma and they are they #1 brain tumor around. Technically - that’s good news. They are also historically benign - that’s also great news. The not so great part is that it is encasing her carotid artery, which means that she needs brain surgery as soon as the Dr.’s can get her on the schedule. While having the correct diagnosis brings clarity, the next few weeks will dictate how delicate surgery and treatment will be. The obvious goal will be to keep that carotid intact and also healthy and tumor free.

 

This is the part where we come in. Dee will be needing to focus on her treatment, surgery and recovery, as well as her family without the added burden of worrying about finances. As a fiercely independent person this ask is tough for her, so lets show the Fretwell family that we have their backs now when they need their community more than ever. Please remember all of the times that she has made your day a lot brighter, and give as much as you can to help her get through this time and still cover expenses.

I have no doubt that Dee will kick this tumor’s ass just like she has every other challenge, and we can help by taking some of the burden off of her.

There is a Caring Bridge link to help everyone stay updated-Dee | CaringBridge

https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/deelightful