My name is Kassandra and I am 25 years old. The last 8 years of my story are not easy to tell nor to have lived through, but I am asking for donations so I may change and have a better, more fulfilling furture.  At the early age of 17 I contracted an unknown virus in a foreign country while on vacation with my family. The virus attacked my nervous system and caused immediate and total hearing loss in my right ear and progressive loss in my left. Now as of November 2014 I am 100% deaf. Along with the hearing loss I suffer debilitating headaches, blackouts, and severe pain. In my quest for a cochlear implant I was told that I am the perfect candidate for the surgery. However, during tests that needed to be done and passed before I got the green light to go, I was told that I had a mass in my frotnal lobes of my brain and fluid built up. Along with those findings I was also told I have a prolasped mitral valve in my heart from an infection that is causing blood to flow backwards and needs immediate repair. I was healthy, active, ambitous, and motivated before I became ill. I have goals, and a promising future that I am living to strive for. But I need help from donations to help fund my surgery due to the fact that insurance will not cover everything, nor help with traveling, lodging, meals, or fuel expenses. I am looking to the good and generous hearts of the people for help. Anything is worth everthing to me, because something is better than nothing. Please help me to reach my goal and to have a future. Thank You Kassandra L. Porter