Here is Vanessa’s story.

In the fall of 2022, I was diagnosed with colorectal cancer in the inner lining of my colon. My doctor assured me that there was an early detection with great treatment options and a higher cure potential, so I followed suit. Unfortunately, that just wasn’t the case. In late summer of 2023, I received the diagnosis of stage 2 bladder cancer. That had meant that the cancer had spread to the inner lining of my bladder and had invaded the layer of my muscle. Thank goodness the cancer had not metastasized to my lymph nodes or other potential organs at that time. I completed another round of surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. I was in remission and getting back to as normal of a life as I could, things were looking up.

And then that is when my life took a turn in a horribly different direction that I could never imagine. I fell victim to domestic abuse. It was an ongoing occurrence and once I found the courage to flee, just like clockwork, in February of 2024 it happened. I was beaten in the head countless times; I was then thrown to the ground by my neck. I was strangled to the point of almost becoming unconscious. I was then stomped in the head so many times I cannot even recall. I remember freezing. If I attempted to fight back, I knew that it would be the end of my life. If I tried to escape or scream for help, that would be the end of my life. I knew that the only thing I could possibly do to survive was to freeze and appease. There were times the abuser would demand a response, yet the second I opened my mouth he would stab me with a box cutter. Then, if I stayed silent, that wasn’t good enough so I would be stabbed again. I then took a blow to the forehead that caused so much blood, I don’t know how else to describe it other than a water fountain of blood. I simply was covered in blood like the scene from the movie, Carrie. As if I couldn’t have been more degraded, I had to take the shirt from my back, body fully exposed to compress the injury and just pray I stopped bleeding because I was informed by the abuser that if I didn’t stop bleeding, he would have to kill me. After a few hours I was able to superglue my forehead to stop the bleeding to his liking. I was then violently raped and held captive for 2 days. I’m forever grateful for my instincts kicking in and I was able to coerce the abuser into taking me somewhere public. I escaped from the vehicle and ran into a public building seeking help. I share this part of my life more than I do with my illness because I want to help others that are in these types of situations know that they are not alone and there is a light at the end of the darkest tunnels.

Unfortunately, because of the delay in my being able to seek medical attention, I had suffered traumatic brain injuries that were beyond repair yet with certain lifestyle changes, I could somewhat get back to a normal life. I sustained back and neck injuries, my left ear was determined to have 18% hearing, my right eye suffered partial blindness from a detached retina, I had to go through speech and physical therapy for over a year. I suffered from seizures as well as memory loss and difficulties swallowing from the strangulation. The hardest part of it all was uprooting and moving as I have been extremely proud of myself for providing myself and my daughter with a safe home to live in. Due to the continued stalking, threats and harassment I had to move three different times in less than 18 months. I will forever be grateful to the detective that worked diligently to keep me safe. Because of his dedication to keeping me safe and alive, my abuser is in a position where he cannot harm me for a very long time.

That doesn’t take away from the costs I have had to endure. The many deposits of moving and renting. The costs of breaking a lease early because of the necessity to flee, storage units, etc. Therapy, medications, copays, you name it. I simply and barely broke even in life just a few months ago. Yet life was great in September; I moved into the most beautiful yet old apartment with the best rent I’ve had since my 20s. I was safe and happy, rebuilding with my head held so high, nothing could get me down.

And then it happened, almost suddenly. I was more fatigued than normal. I forgot things like my keys and cell phone because I kept losing them every day. Complete brain fog and moderate headaches here and there. I was suffering from blurred and double vision. Then my symptoms escalated even more; I was zoning out now and then and the headaches were becoming more often and far more intense. Quickly it became more serious with me sleeping pretty much every second possible, I even had to set alarms to be able to wake up and eat something. Every time I woke up, I would have a pounding headache, a feeling of extreme pounding pressure. I was forgetting conversations that I had, I was forgetting moments in the day that had happened. My reactions came a little bit slower, and my balance was beginning to decline. For a month I just thought that these were all side effects from the head injuries I sustained. And so very quickly all my symptoms began to intensify. I had to go to the emergency room and unfortunately, they didn’t dive deeper into my symptoms and quickly sent me home with pain medication telling me that it was just bad migraines that often still occur after a traumatic brain injury. After a couple of days, as things continued to progressively get worse as well as starting to have difficulty swallowing, chest pains and lower back pain, I reached out to my physicians, and I was scheduled for a CT scan. Then I received the news nobody wants to hear… cancer.

Liver and esophageal cancer; I was informed that both were very treatable with a very positive prognosis. As I quickly let out a sigh of some relief, they then explained to me that I also have stage 4 glioblastoma. I have three tumors in my brain which are growing rapidly. I recently had a biopsy for more clarity, and I have received the complete diagnosis, treatment options and prognosis. What I have is a grade 4 diffuse midline glioma with a rare cell mutation of HK372. The tumor has spread into surrounding brain tissue which makes it very difficult to remove them surgically. Mine is located on the thalamus, which is deep in the center of my brain: controls things like my movement, sensation, speech, how I process information. Surgery just isn’t an option for me as it’s far too dangerous. I am very grateful that I don’t carry another mutation that could have progressed the growth rate more rapidly and would have limited my treatment options even more so. It’s difficult to process at this time because there are so many variables that come into play when it comes to a particular type of tumor or a particular type of cancer. There’s confidence that with radiation and immunotherapy that it may bless me with more time on this earth, so after much thought and numerous discussions with my team of doctors, I have decided that I will diligently follow my treatment plan.

I have been asked if I need any help with a bucket list or funeral expenses, etc. I personally don’t have a bucket list. I really do feel like I have traveled, lived life, loved and still have an insane amount of love in me to give with this time I have left. Due to the most recent government shutdown, my application for disability will not be submitted until next week and could possibly take a few months for approval. Funding for assistance is drained for Polk County and Iowa in general. I’m not sure if it breaks my heart or the workers hearts more when they tell me there just isn’t the funding or simply that I don’t qualify because of technicality. So, I am asking for help with living expenses. I simply cannot work, and the cost of treatment will drain me of any savings I had.

Hi, my name is Lucy and live in Norwalk. I’m one of Vanessa’s childhood friends. Im reaching out because Vanessa needs us right now. She is facing something no one should ever have to go through alone, and it’s our turn to stand beside her.

These next few months should be filled with love, comfort, and peace—not fear or financial stress. With your help, we can lift that weight off her shoulders and give her the freedom to focus on what truly matters: feeling supported, cared for, and surrounded by people who refuse to let her walk this path alone.

Your generosity—no matter the amount—will make a real difference. Please help us show her that she is held, she is loved, and she will not face this alone. Vanessa will be the only beneficiary on this go fund me and all the money raised will go towards living expenses, medical expenses and whatever else that she needs.