Hello family and friends of Jo Ellen <3

This is Akemi, her youngest daughter, writing to you all in seek of some assistance. As some of you may know, my mom Jo has a benign meningioma brain tumor. We discovered her tumor in 2009 when my older sister Aidan and I were only 6 and 8 years old. In 2010, she had surgery and her surgeon removed about 30% of the tumor. It could not be completely removed due to the tumor's location. The tumor grew around her optic nerve. The tumor eventually took away her sight in her right eye.

After her first surgery, her recovery went well. We would sometimes forget she was living with a brain tumor. She was able to function, go to work and had her usual funny sense of humor. She continued being the the caring mother she always has been.

Fast forward to September 2022, my mom was struggling to keep her balance and was having a difficult time concentrating at work. My boyfriend Anthony and I took my mom to the Emergency Room. The neurosurgeon discovered the tumor had grown, it was now more than 2 inches long and the doctor recommended she have surgery to remove as much of the tumor as possible. This news was frightening to us all, especially to my mom who did not want to endure the pain of going through another intense surgery.

On October 28th, 2022 she received a second surgery. The surgery was successful and Dr. Udani was able to remove 90% of her tumor! My family and I were thrilled, but knew this was just the beginning of the long road to recovery.

After spending 2 weeks at Scripps Mercy Hospital, she was discharged to a post surgery acute care facility where she continues to get the physical therapy she needs. Her motor skills are coming back slowly and she struggles to move her left hand. She also struggles to walk without assistance and is constantly afraid of falling.

After being moved to the care facility, we encountered our first setback. Her head was swelling with cerebral spinal fluid. The spinal fluid was leaking out of her skull, where it had been surgically removed, and would make the right side of her head balloon and swell. The surgeon removed over 120 milliliters of spinal fluid, but the swelling has since returned and as a result, she is having another surgery on December 29th. The plan is to remove the front part of her skull and place a shunt to stop the leaking. We are praying that after this surgery she can come home to her loving husband and cats.

I feel very lucky that my mom is so loved! Her best friends visit her nearly daily and her 2 brothers Tim and Mike, do so much even though neither live nearby. It is easy to see how much she is loved and cared for. Currently, my stepdad Simon, my sister, my dad, her best friends and I have been aiding with her recovery. Between all of us, we do what we can but everyone works full time and my sister and I are both full-time college students. It's been difficult to ensure that Jo is getting the care she needs, while also staying on top of our own obligations in life. This is why we are seeking financial assistance in getting her home care.

Once my mom comes home, she won't be fully recovered. She is still going to need lots of help. Using the restroom, showering, walking, and other daily activities that we take for granted will be a task and she is going to need professional support. Having a caretaker who can be there assisting her when we can't is essential to her safety and recovery.

Anything that you are able to give would be greatly appreciated by my family and I. I know that not everyone may have the means to donate, and that's okay. Sharing this link is just as important! Thank you all for reading this and for caring about my mom's health. It means the world to my family and I.

Stay strong, Josie! <3