Lindsay Prater medical fund

My Best Friend Lindsay Prater was recently diagnosed with  an Acoustic Neuroma (a type of Brain Tumor).

Lindsay is  a 31 year-old mother of two (Clayton 13 and Mikaela 8). Lindsay is the most caring, kind- hearted, supportive, and giving person I have ever met. She has such a good heart. She is the real meaning of a true friend. She has supported me through many events, whether it was bringing me mashed potatoes when I had my tonsils removed, making my family a meal when my father passed away or setting up with me all night when I was in labor with my son and was alone. (She did not want me to be alone at such an important time.) She was there anyway she could be. However, it's not just me that she does these kind things for, she does it for all her friends and family. She is always paying it forward.

The begining of December 2014 Lindsay began having awful headaches and extremely high blood pressures. Then one evening at work she lost the hearing in her left ear. Thinking she had a virus and a bit of bad luck . She went to same-day-care when she got off  work. Many tests later, she was given the scary news that she had a brain tumor. She was refered to a Dr. at KU Med and a Dr. in LA that specializes in this type of condition. Now, not only is she told she has a tumor, but she may lose her hearing completely.

 For the past 3 years Lindsay has worked as a 911 dispatcher. As you can imagine, this is a very demanding job, which she loves because again, she is helping people. However hearing is essential. If she can't hear she can't do her job. This is a terrifying thought.

Lindsay has decieded to go to LA to have this tumor removed. She and her mother Lori Prater will fly to LA mid Febuary 2015. Lori will be staying at the Seaton Guest house on the hospital campus while lindsay recovers. This seems to be the best option in order to attempt to save her hearing. The Surgeon at  St.Vincent Hospital in LA has given her a 50% chance of saving her hearing. She will be there at least 2 weeks recovering and relearning basic tasks.

Now, Lindsay needs the help of her friends. We can pay it forward to her. Every donation is greatly Apperciated. 

 A bit more about Acoustic Neuroma.
Acoustic Neuroma is a tumor found in the area of the brain where the auditory (hearing) nerve enters the bony opening of the skull between the brain and the inner ear. Acoustic neuroma (AN), also called a vestibular schwannoma, is a benign tumor that is located on the eighth cranial nerve. The eighth cranial nerve, which traverses from the inner ear to the brain, is also called the auditory nerve or vestibulocochlear nerve. Cranial nerves are a group of nerves that emerge directly from the brain. There are 12 cranial nerves, 10 of which emerge from the brainstem and 2 of which emerge from the cerebrum. The cranial nerves that are relevant to any discussion of acoustic neuroma are the auditory or vestibulocochlear nerve (eighth cranial nerve), the facial nerve (seventh cranial nerve), and in some cases, the trigeminal nerve (fifth cranial nerve). The auditory nerve transmits information about equilibrium (balance) from the inner ear to the brain. The cochlear nerve transmits information about sound.
facial nerve activates the muscles that control facial movement. The vestibular portion of the auditory nerve is the site of origin in up to 95% of the cases of acoustic neuromas. The facial nerve (seventh cranial nerve) has motor and sensory functions. It controls the muscles that are responsible for facial expression, and also transmits taste sensation from the front two-thirds of the tongue and oral cavity to the brain. Facial nerve dysfunction in acoustic neuroma is usually a result of its being manipulated during tumor removal surgery. The trigeminal nerve is responsible for sensation in the face, such as touch, position, pain, and temperature, as well as for motor functions, such as biting, chewing, and swallowing. The trigeminal nerve dysfunction is not common in acoustic neuroma but may occur due to pressure from the growth of the tumor or manipulation of the nerve during surgery

Please keep her and her family in your thoughts and prayers.

Thanks
Angela Stevens