Help Erika Rebuild After Brain Surgery

Help Me Heal and Rebuild After Brain Surgery

Hi, my name is Erika Falbo, and I never imagined I’d be writing something like this.

On February 19th, 2025, I went to the emergency room in severe pain, with blurry vision and uncontrollable vomiting. Despite how serious my symptoms were, the hospital dismissed me and sent me home. The next day, my mother knew something was seriously wrong—she called 911, and I was taken to a different hospital. That’s where they discovered I had a large brain tumor and quickly transferred me to Presby. Once I arrived, they did more testing and performed emergency brain surgery to save my life.

The diagnosis: a rare condition called pituitary macroadenoma apoplexy—a sudden hemorrhage of a pituitary tumor.

What makes this situation even more challenging is that when this happened, I was only on my 8th day of a new job. I don’t qualify for short- or long-term disability, and while I’ve applied for disability benefits, it will take about six months to process. So, I’m left without income and struggling to make ends meet.

Since then, my life has changed in every possible way. The surgery left my pituitary gland non-functioning, which means I now rely on daily hormone replacement therapy to survive. I also lost all peripheral vision in my right eye due to the tumor’s pressure on my optic nerves. My doctor is hopeful that some of my vision may return over time, but I won’t know more until my next follow-up in October.

This rare and terrifying event has left me unable to drive or work, and I don’t know when—or if—I’ll be able to return. I’ve lost my financial independence, and most painful of all, it’s affected how I care for my two children. Being a mom has always been the most important role in my life, and it breaks my heart that I don’t have the same energy and ability to be there for them in the way I used to.

I’m asking for help to cover basic living expenses, uncovered medical costs, and to support myself and my children while I focus on healing. There’s no set goal—anything helps, and every little bit brings us closer to stability and peace.

Thank you for reading, for caring, and for standing with me during this incredibly vulnerable time. Your support means more than words can say.

With love and gratitude,

Erika Falbo