Isabel's 4th Brain Surgery

*UPDATE*: We have been blown away by the generosity of family friends and complete strangers supporting Isabel and her family. A local newspaper just put out this incredible article for you to read. https://www.thesunchronicle.com/news/local_news/fundraising-account-set-up-for-mansfield-teen-facing-another-brain-surgery/article_eb4ea265-b198-5de2-8730-72d41a8fb82f.html

As we navigate our thoughts, dreams, and plans for the New Year, I would appreciate your attention for just one moment. Every year at Christmas, I write in cards I give out “Wishing you a happy and healthy New Year.” Health should be the most important ticket on our journey. Some have control over their health, others are not so lucky.

As many of you know, and some on here who have never met her, my niece Isabel is 17 years old. A beautiful strong, smart teenager. Side note: over the last three years, she has missed countless school days, whether due to headaches, dizziness, medical appointments, or long-haul surgeries. With all that in mind, she kept honors each year and this year high honors. She is a lover of ALL animals and looks at differences in humans as a beautiful gift.

She has unfairly faced many serious challenges in her young years of life. First having brain surgery at the age of 13 for Chiari Malformation.

Then just three years later, lightning struck again. Unrelated to the first, this time a large tumor was found in her brain an Acoustic Neuroma (very rare in teenagers. In adults 1 in 100,000 per year are diagnosed) That 12-hour surgery was in April 2022, and a small remnant was left.

In Aug 2022 she had to have another surgery since the titanium plate started to pop out the side of her head.

As you may suspect, the pain and scars have not faded, and she needs another intense surgery to attack the remainder of the tumor that is re-growing on the 7th & 8th cranial nerves. This is a delicate surgery, only to be attempted by an expert in California in hopes of complete tumor removal. This necessary surgery could unfortunately paralyze the left side of her face, temporarily or permanently as the tumor growth is on that nerve. She has already lost hearing permanently in the left ear after the second surgery and we are praying no other damage will be done (she now experiences intense tinnitus daily).

It is never an easy ask for folks to help, but today I need to ask a bit more of you. My sister Amy, brother-in-law Will, and Isabel will head to California in March for this surgery and are expected to stay for nearly 13 days from prep, to the surgery, to the recovery. We are hopeful insurance will pay for much of the surgery (this will be “out of Network” ), but between high co-pays (like they had last time), the procedures not all fully covered by insurance, airfare, hotel stay, food, and transportation, this will add up very quickly for them.

Amy and Will plan to both take medical leaves from their jobs to be with Isabel during this time. Amy serves hundreds of our kiddos each day at Mansfield Qualters Middle School as an assistant cook, and Will serves our community as a Norwood Police Sgt.

Any small amount you could donate to help my sister and brother-in-law would be greatly appreciated. Given it is out of state, there is little we can do to help them. That being the case, I thought I would share this will all of you. Above all, let’s hope this is the last surgical need for Isabel. We all want one gift for this sweet girl: to not have to worry anymore and live a carefree adult life. You can’t rewind the past which robbed her of so much, but you can show the gift of love and support for the future.

We all thank you so much. If you are willing to share this message, that is just as powerful.

“Always remember you are braver than you think, stronger than you seem and loved more than you know“