Rachel Woodmansee Spencer started having painful headaches last year. And in mid-December, she was rushed to the hospital with severe symptoms.

The culprit was a mass in her brain, which demanded immediate surgery. Surgeons removed a grade 4 Astrocytoma tumor.

This is an aggressive form of cancer.

Doctors have stressed that treatment needs to be immediate. But the couple’s insurance coverage is currently sub-par and only covers certain aspects of the Chemotherapy and Radiation Treatments needed to fight the cancer cells still in her brain.

This is a sweet, young family - just starting out. They are devastated and crushed by this catastrophic health challenge. Having financial help will ease some of the burden and help Rachel fight this horrible disease.

Our deepest gratitude for anything you can contribute. ❤️

~ In-Depth Background Story ~

After months of having excruciating headaches on and off, her OB/GYN doctors told her they were “just hormone headaches and postpartum issues”. After multiple days of another episode of these headaches, Rachel woke up on December 16th with impaired vision. She called her husband, Peter, who hurried home from work to find Rachel in distress and their 6-month-old baby boy unattended on the bed. Peter rushed Rachel to the Spanish Fork Hospital where she was given a CT scan that showed a mass in her brain. She was transported by ambulance to Utah Valley Hospital and admitted to the ICU where she was evaluated by a team of Doctors. A neurosurgeon determined that Rachel needed emergency surgery to remove the tumor to relieve the pressure and swelling on her brain.

A few hours and several seizures later, the neurosurgery team performed a 5 hour surgery on Rachel and was able to remove most of the tumor. In the hours following the brain surgery Rachel suffered a stroke as a result of the trauma and bleeding to her brain. This additional heartbreaking setback has damaged the area of the brain that allows Rachel to see peripherally on the left side.

At two weeks after the surgery Rachel had gained most of her physical abilities back thanks to the swelling in her brain receding. However, the pathology report revealed the tumor to be a grade 4 Astrocytoma; an aggressive form of cancer.

Rachel has a long road of recovery and fighting ahead. Their insurance coverage had been sub-par and only covers certain aspects of the Chemotherapy and Radiation treatments needed to fight the cancer cells still in her brain. Her doctors feel it’s important to begin treatments immediately. The need is urgent.

As a young family, the Spencers are devastated by this catastrophic health challenge. Receiving any financial help will ease some of the burden and help Rachel fight this horrible disease.