Help Marisa Galvans Journey with Metastatic meningioma

This is the story of my dear sister Marisa Galvan: Marisa has battled brain meningiomas since 2008 and she was recently diagnosed with an extremely rare disease called Metastatic meningioma Grade 2. Metastatic meningioma is a rare complication of meningiomas, which are tumors that originate in the central nervous system (CNS): Metastatic meningioma occurs in less than 1% of meningioma patients. Marisa is one of the youngest. She is 33 years old.

If you know my sister, my family, you truly know what kind of people we are. My sister is the kindest, most pure, genuine soul. She has always been my angel, my voice of hope when down, and the one who would do anything for a stranger because it’s the right thing to do. We would be so grateful for anything you can donate, but we would also appreciate if you can even just share this story an Go Fund Me to get the word out.

Here is her story:

At the end of July 2008 my sister Marisa was diagnosed with a rare brain tumor: atypical rhabdoid meningioma. She underwent two surgeries in 2008 to remove the tumor. Marisa had to re-learn how to do everything all over again along with multiple challenges as a result from the surgery. She handles those challenges with grace and never complains, this is my sister, she is strong, she is grateful for life. Since 2008 she had 5 brain surgeries and many others in attempts to repair what that tumor took. In 2014 there were new tumors and Marisa underwent radiation to directly aim at the tumors, this was a success. Despite some hiccups she has lived a very happy and fulfilling life because she has always chosen the challenge over any defeat.

In 2022 she gave birth to Ezekiel and she was complete, she spent 10 years trying for her son and through the grace of IVF she and David were blessed. In May of 2024 a scan revealed some growth. Marisa immediately went into radiation once again and the brain has remained stable. During this time my mother was persistent her children getting genetic tested for a mutation our maternal side carries. My mother’s sister Lorraine carried this mutation and fought long and hard for many years with cancer, I would like to say she won in the end because she never gave up. She is our guardian angel and because of her bringing awareness… After being tested we discovered my mom, and my sister carry this same rare mutation called BAP-1. After some genetic screening and x-ray our mothers scan of the chest would show stage 4 lung cancer. This mutation will make any disease or cancer hungrier and smarter.

My sister Marisa then went and got a lung x-ray because of my mom battling lung cancer. This scan showed a mass in my sisters’ lung and around that area. I hate writing this but here we are. We have found out that my sister Marisa’s brain meningiomas have metastasized to the lung which is unheard of. The Huntsman Cancer Institute has never seen this and said Marisa is one in a billion and advised us to start looking for clinical trials as they attempt to put together a treatment plan but with no data to go off of, because of the rarity, everything will be a trial but finding an actual one is key. The oncologist at HCI said he would start looking but we needed to as well. Well the oncologist found one, it does not specialize in her rare disease, but this radioactive isotope targets the receptor produced from these meningiomas. This trial is working on meningiomas and specific grades, it’s a blessing this one trial in the world is happening now.

Marisa and I flew out to the Mayo Clinic in AZ We met with multiple specialists for second opinions and they all agreed our best option is this clinical trial and when I told them of the medicine the trial is using, they couldn’t agree more that this is where she needs to be. So here begins my sister's journey in Ohio. We started this Go Fund Me to help aid with medical cost, travel cost, and any other cost that may occur. She will need to travel to Ohio for treatments and stay there for multiple days.

Everyone is facing a battle of some type; you have no idea what is happening in others’ lives or where they struggle. Please be kind to one another. Tomorrow is not promised and in the blink of an eye your entire world can flip and navigating these battles are hard enough.

From the bottom of my families and my heart. THANK YOU for your continued support and please continue to pray for my mom, my aunt, my sister, my entire family…

We love you all and are so grateful for each and every one of you.

Sincerely, Galvan family