Hi everyone, thank you for taking the time to read this. My name is Tina and I recently had a brain surgery called a  craniotomy to remove a meningioma brain tumor that was situated on one of the two main blood vessels that run through your brain. It was also pushing on my pituitary gland and my left optic nerve and had started to grow against and was abutted against my right optic nerve. Because of this I was partially blind in my left eye and the symptoms that I was having we're too much to bear and my neurosurgeon decided surgery was the only option so that I could live a longer, healthier life. To be clear it really  was a life-saving surgery.

You know it's tough when you have a brain surgery though and you're unaware of all the physical side effects, symptoms, issues and day to day emotional problems you'll have after the surgery. That is, until you get to the point where you start having them. I feel so lost sometimes because it was not explained to me that I would have side effects or what would happen emotionally or physically after surgery. Probably the most disabling thing has been the fact that I lost most of my eyesight in my left eye and it's not guaranteed that I'll get it back. So I was told that I couldn't drive for 6 weeks at least and I was told that although it's unfortunate that I lost my eyesight at least my life was saved. Which is the truth and I'm grateful beyond anything I can say that my surgeon was an adept and perfectly capable man to perform the surgery and save my life. However, on the emotional side of it not being able to drive, sit down at a table and see somebody approach me from the left is unnerving and emotionally draining.

I also cannot work for a couple months and I was out of work for months before. I'm struggling now as I have spent all my savings on rent and my bills. The people that I live with, thank goodness, are helping me at the moment with the little bit that they can but it's causing them undue stress and financial issues. I never thought that I would be in this position and I'm mortified that there's nothing I can do about it at the moment but ask for help which causes nervousness and I'm scared that I won't receive it. Everything is in Jeopardy of getting shut off or canceled.

I would be beyond grateful and appreciate anything that you could give to help me through this tough time. And one day in the future I will pay this forward somebody else in need and struggling.