Heather’s Battle & New Challenges Ahead!

The outpour of love from family and friends reaching out asking how they can help Heather means the world to our family as there hasn’t been a ounce of normal in what seems to be an eternity! Creating this page was the quickest thing we could come up with! Whether you gift her financially, with prayers/good vibes, a dinner in or a sweet visit… your generosity is something we are beyond grateful for!

As most of you know in September of 2020 Heather was diagnosed with a rare Brain Tumor on her brain stem and spinal cord (known as the PONS) playing a crucial role in the body's nervous system and how it is controlled. She underwent aggressive treatment for months and with immense bravery and strength she was able to take her life back and went into remission from 2021 to September 2024.

Heather started having some bothering symptoms this summer that lead to a sooner scheduled MRI in September. She/we got the devastating news that the tumor started to grow again….this time it was different. Just since September she has dealt with many challenges and life altering circumstances that NO one person could ever wrap their mind around. Heather started very aggressive Proton Radiation and Chemotherapy soon after meeting with her medical team to create the best possible plan. Heather was blind sided with intense changes and hasn’t been able to walk well since October, The mobility in her right side was stolen from her and now she is completely wheel chair dependent, (for now) she doesn’t have use of her right arm, her eye site, hearing, and swallowing have all been affected from the diagnosis and treatments. In December she was unfortunately knocked down with pneumonia so bad that it caused her to go septic and collapsed her lung, this has kept her in the hospital… going on months unable to continue her Chemotherapy. While Heather has been battling one poison with another, she started to aspirate everything she would eat/drink and on 2/7/25 she had a stomach surgery to place a feeding tube to begin to regain some nutrition and get her on a path to healing! Heather has not been able to work IN MONTHS and has spent 13 + years as a respected Autism Therapist giving her adult life to children in the Arlington community! I would love to try and give back to her and relieve any added stress as Heather has a long road ahead, with the stress of everyday finances Heather is undertaking full payment of her health insurance as well with not working. on top of all her medical expenses piling in. I also know our family is trying to accommodate her needs with creating a safe wheel chair accessible home/driving environment. I can’t imagine how she is feeling, writing this has me in a spiral angst for her!

Our family cannot extend more gratitude for all your love and support in Heather’s journey! We believe God is bigger! She had beat this before and we KNOW SHE WILL AGAIN! (Proverbs 31:35) She is fighting with so much grit, bravery, strength! Please continue to pray for her… send her a message when you are thinking about her bc I know it’s the little things that mean the most to her!! Heather has kept her smile and love for people in all this and I know that you all are her “WHY!”