My best friend of nearly 30 years, Becky, has recently received a life-changing diagnosis: an acoustic neuroma, a rare and benign tumor that grows on the nerve connecting the ear to the brain. Although non-cancerous, the tumor is serious. If left untreated, it will likely continue to grow, causing permanent hearing loss and increased neurological symptoms as it presses against her brain.

In hindsight, she’s had subtle symptoms for a few years: general fatigue, migraines every couple of weeks, a few funny double-vision events, and occasional memory slips that could be chalked up to forgetfulness. But the symptoms came and went, never all at once. It was easy to dismiss. But in late September, everything escalated: she began slurring her words and suddenly couldn’t stand on her own. Doctors initially thought she might be having a stroke. An MRI revealed the culprit: a tumor tucked deep in her ear canal, growing slowly as time passed until it was large enough to press against her brain.

After researching all available options, her best option is a highly specialized surgeon at UC San Diego who performs more than 200 of these surgeries every year. His conversation with Becky was promising, as surgery would prevent future neurological complications and dramatically increase the likelihood of preserving her hearing. The procedure is complex and intense, requiring access through the skull to remove the tumor and relieve pressure on the brain. Patients typically spend several days in the ICU, followed by close monitoring in the hospital to ensure they’re on the right path to recovery. Most patients remain in San Diego for around 10 days post-surgery before they’re stable enough to travel home and continue recovery.

For Becky and her family, the financial weight of this unexpected crisis is huge. We hope to raise funds to support them through surgery and recovery. This amount will help cover:

- Travel and lodging for her spouse and 2 children, so they can fly from Portland to San Diego to support Becky during her surgery and hospitalization

- Her lost income during her estimated 10-week recovery

- Her insurance deductible and other uncovered medical expenses

If you know Becky, you know she’s one of the most generous humans alive. She’s fostered zillions of animals, supported countless people through mutual aid, taken unhoused individuals under her wing and into her home, and genuinely would give you the shirt off her back with no questions asked.

For Becky, kindness isn’t occasional… it’s pretty much her default setting. This woman always shows up for others, and she deserves to be on the receiving end this time. We want her to focus entirely on healing, to have her family by her side during this intense surgery, and to avoid being buried under debt in the process.

If you can give, share, or send love her way, we are deeply grateful. Thank you for supporting someone who's spent her life supporting everyone else… and for helping her kick this unwelcome brain-adjacent invader to the curb!