Help Our Sweet Gemma

This past July, our sweet Gemma was admitted to the hospital after an MRI showed 3 tumors on the left side of her brain. The MRI was taken to get to the root of her crippling migraines, which had been intensifying in severity over the course of the past year. After much back and forth with the neurology and neuro-oncology team at Beth Israel, Gemma was sent home with the directive to come back for regular scans to see how and if the tumors progress. The doctors felt confident the tumors were either benign or indicative of some kind of demyelinating disease, like MS.

At a second opinion consultation at Dana Farber Cancer Institute in September, they performed a more detailed MR spectroscopy scan, which looks specifically for the cancer marker 2HG, which is associated with a mutation of the IDH enzyme that is common in brain cancer. Unfortunately the results of this scan showed increased levels of both markers, which her doctor assessed as likely indicative of a low grade glioma. In order to determine exactly what her diagnosis is, Gemma will undergo surgery on October 29th to remove about 80% of the primary tumor and have it biopsied. The biopsy results will determine the course of treatment for the remaining tumors.

Gemma is in the very best hands with Dr. Reardon at Dana Farber and Dr. Golby at Brigham and Women's Hospital and we have no doubt that she will come through this the same goofy, strong, and caring person we all love so much. She has an incredible support system and and amazing family who are, in their own words, “completely obsessed with her.” Many of you who know what’s going on have asked how you can help. We are starting this Go Fund Me as a show of support for our Gemma, who even after being diagnosed, still showed up to work to deliver and care for her patients’ babies without a second thought. She will be out of work for at least 8 weeks recovering from her surgery and figuring out next steps in her treatment, so any donations here will go toward making her recovery time as stress-free as possible.

This space will also serve as a place to find updates on Gemma’s care, as texts and calls can be overwhelming (when you are loved by as many as she is).

Thank you so much for supporting our favorite, and most beloved alien.