Rally for Riley- Brain Tumor Fund

We all know that the word tumor can conjure up lots of images and emotions. It is an unknown pathway paved with disbelief, fear, anxiety, anger, sadness, and heartbreak. What I know to be true is that during times of struggle, a pathway littered with darkness can be overcome by those we love surrounding us with compassion and love, shining their light to combat the darkness. So, with this, I begin by devoting energy to help share the story of my dearest friend, Riley, who finds herself facing an incredibly challenging journey ahead.

 

Riley’s Journey

The beginning of Riley’s story started on May 20th with an unintended trip down a flight of stairs triggered by a sudden onset of leg weakness. With such a strange occurrence, Riley decided to schedule an appointment and have her doctor look into any possible explanation behind this. After completing her first MRI, she was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Without surgery, they are unable to diagnose the type of tumor Riley has definitively. Based on her doctors' best guesses, they believe it is a Meningioma Tumor, a noncancerous tumor located in the brain's membranous layers. The location of Riley’s tumor, on the back side of her brain, increased the pressure on her Cerebellum. It was determined this was the culprit to the weakness in her leg resulting in her fall down the stairs. After further discussion with her doctor, it also checked a lot of boxes for other symptoms that she had been experiencing but was simply brushed off as nothing serious. These included nausea, dizziness, headaches and vision issues.

 

Riley’s Next Steps

Surgery to remove the tumor is scheduled in July and should take approximately 5 hours to complete. She will then spend at least the first night in ICU and the next 2-10 days on the neuro floor to monitor her progress. Once she is released to heal in the comforts of her own home, she will be monitored to determine the rest of her journey. In addition to her time recovering from surgery, there is a potential for needing additional medical treatments, including radiation and/or Physical Therapy. These depend on so many variables, including complications directly related to surgery, resulting in loss or diminished motor skills, and the type of tumor once lab testing is completed. They are predicting Riley will be out of work for 4-8 weeks to recover, and even this isn’t for certain.

 

How You Can Help?

For those of you who have been blessed to know Riley, from the deepest friendships to the simplest of acquaintances, she has this unquenchable desire to make everyone she meets feel like family. For me to even begin to try and define her kindness with words would simply not do it justice. Every one of us has leaned on her kindness and strength at some point in time. Now it is our turn to let her lean on all of us and allow her to focus on herself and her family. If you are able to help with a monetary contribution, reducing the financial burden of 4-8 weeks off of work, please do so. Regardless of your ability to contribute, I ask that you all send your thoughts and prayers to her and her family and light their way during their journey through darkness.