Stand with Karissa on her rare & unforeseen medical journey

This beautiful woman, inside and out, is Karissa Cumpston and she is 32 years old. Karissa is one of the most kindhearted, genuine, and hardworking women I have come to know. Monday -Friday she sets aside any personal feelings/issues aside and provides compassionate care to many pediatric patients as a nurse at Fairport Pediatrics, and the rest of her time with her boyfriend, niece and nephew, and all her other family and friends.

At the end of January this year (2024) Karissa was diagnosed with a 2.5cm rare benign brain tumor known as acoustic neuroma (aka vestibular schwannoma). The months leading up to Karissa’s final diagnosis she was experiencing new-onset migraines associated with dizziness, visual disturbances, and ear pain, which lead her to be admitted into the hospital where she was officially diagnosed with an acoustic neuroma, a rare brain tumor. This rare and unpreventable growth develops on the eighth cranial nerve which runs from the inner ear to the brain and is responsible for hearing and balance. Each year, about 1 in 100,000 people develop an acoustic neuroma.

On July 17th, 2024, Karissa will have to undergo her FIRST SURGERY EVER called a retrosigmoid craniotomy (brain surgery) that involves surgeons entering through the back of her skull to remove this intrusive growth. Karissa will have to stay in the hospital 3-5 days after the surgery, at least 12 weeks out of work, and then months of vestibular therapy. The potential risks of this surgery are (but not limited to) complete hearing loss of the operative ear, CSF leak, hemorrhage, brain stem injury, and lifelong changes with balance/vision/facial nerves. In addition to the stress of this upcoming surgery/recovery, doctors appointments and MRI’s, the medical bills are starting to pile up and causing even more emotional turmoil. As Karissa is someone who is very independent and will never ask for help, this gofundme is being made in hopes to help raise money to help her pay these escalating medical bills and upcoming hospital/surgical bills. No one deserves significant financial stress especially when it’s for medical intervention for an unprovoked/ non preventable diagnosis such as Karissa’s. Anything will help, and I know just how much your support and donation will mean to her during this scary time in her life!

And a personal thank you in advance for loving and supporting her as much as we all do!