Savannah Bermudez, local Army Veteran, mother, step-mother and my wife, began experiencing severe headaches during the summer of 2020. The stresses that came with the year initially masked the severity of the headaches as she attributed the pain to the stress of my (her husband’s) lengthy military deployment, increased demands placed upon her at work and the general stress which 2020 gifted us all.

By late fall, she sought medical attention for what she thought was a stubborn ear/sinus infection. She was advised her ears had extreme pressure on them and she needed to see a specialist before she lost her hearing. After weeks of continued back and forth to obtain insurance approval, Savannah was able to meet with an ear/nose/throat doctor, whom ordered a CT Scan. The results were quite surprising as she learned her sinuses were not creating any pressure. She did, however, have a mass in her brain which was preventing proper flow of brain fluid. On December 4, 2020, my family learned that the pressure my wife was feeling was the result of a mass in her brain, not an ear or sinus infection at all. We would further learn that the mass in her brain was called a colloid cyst. A colloid cyst is a rare and benign brain tumor which can block the proper flow of fluid in the brain, creating excess pressure and can lead to sudden death.

Following weeks of struggle with insurance for approval, again, Savannah was able to meet a neurosurgeon and book the necessary brain surgery for February 5, 2021. The goal of this surgery would be to use a minimally invasive approach to remove the cyst and alleviate the pressure on the brain.

The surgery went well. My wife was in the ICU for several days and was successfully discharged.

Savannah continued to recover nicely at home. Her positive, chipper attitude and daily progress was both surprising and reassuring. Then, suddenly on February 24, 2021 her health declined. She was experiencing a severe headache and I rushed her to the ER, with Savannah in tears from the pain. She was promptly admitted to the hospital and booked for emergency surgery.

The hospital found that, despite the removal of the cyst, pressure continued to build in her brain. The emergency surgery would allow the neurosurgeon to reenter her brain through the existing burr hole used for the initial surgery and add a hole into her brain septum. The brain septum exists between the two ventricles where flow was insufficient and allow the side that was not draining to drain into the other side that was functioning properly.

Again, surgery went well. However, after several days in the hospital, Savannah was suddenly in severe pain again experiencing pressure in her head, stiffness in her neck, nausea and vomiting. The team has concluded Savannah is suffering from meningitis. Meningitis is a very serious matter that can cause brain damage and death. I’ve watched my wife writhing in pain, crying & unable to function independently. She has been a “vegetable” many days, needing me to feed her. It is scary to see.

Now, after two serious brain surgeries in a matter of weeks, and Savannah spending 16 of the last 31 days hospitalized, away from our children, and fighting a dangerous infection, I find myself concerned about the accumulating medical expenses.

I am telling you our story to ask that if you are able to contribute any amount to this campaign, please consider doing so. Any assistance is greatly appreciated and will aid in Savannah obtaining the critical care she needs to get back to our family.

Thank you,



The Bermudez Family