Surgery for brain tumor

Hi, my name is Vanessa and I’m hoping to help my sister Melissa raise funds for surgery she is having for an acoustic neuroma brain tumor.

Melissa started to have dizziness, vertigo and migraines about 10 years ago. Always hoping for answers of why this was happening, she was given that answer after losing her hearing in her left ear, and being rushed to the ER after having facial paralysis and severe memory loss while teaching her 4th graders in her classroom on Thursday, January 11th.

While she has been looking for an answer for a long time, I’m not sure “golfball size brain tumor” is anything that someone is ready to hear. This is a very slow growing tumor that is genetic, and on chromosome marker 22. If you or a loved one experience sudden hearing loss, we share this for awareness. A much safer less invasive surgery would have been available if it was found sooner.

Melissa will be having surgery in Miami and will most likely not be able to work (teach) the rest of the school year. The hearing loss in her left ear is permanent, but she is hoping for a cochlear implant.

Being a single mom of two kids, and a 4th grade teacher, this surgery and recovery comes with a heavy burden of physical, mental and financial strain.

In addition to financial help with the surgery and recovery, we are also asking for prayers and strength for a safe surgery and healthy recovery.

The surgery will be scheduled after her consult with the surgeon on Tuesday. I will keep everyone updated here.