Support Auden's Recovery from Brain Surgery

A few weeks ago, my 14-year-old son, Auden, had been struggling with persistent headaches and difficulty eating. Despite lifestyle changes his doctor recommended, nothing seemed to help. It wasn’t until I took him to the ER for dehydration that everything changed. The nurse immediately became concerned and recommended a CT scan. When they showed us the large mass they found in his brain, my heart broke. It was a devastating moment, realizing that Auden had already been silently suffering and that everything was about to change. The diagnosis was a pilocytic astrocytoma, a brain tumor. The tumor was the size of a grape, but the attached cyst was as large as an orange.

We spent a week in the hospital while Auden underwent surgery to remove the tumor. The hardest part was in the hours following the surgery, when Auden’s speech was slurred, and he was in so much pain and discomfort. The IVs and the drain in his head were a constant reminder of how much he had just endured. But I stayed by his side, doing my best to keep him comfortable, to help him fight through the pain.

Thankfully, Auden’s neurosurgeon and the entire team at Roanoke Memorial Hospital were incredibly supportive and took excellent care of us both. During this time, my mom and I stayed at the Ronald McDonald House in Roanoke, which provided much-needed respite and comfort. We are so grateful for their hospitality and the chance to step away from the hospital for a moment, to breathe and find a little peace in such a difficult time.

Auden’s recovery is going well, and he’s adjusting to his new normal, but the medical bills from the surgery and hospital stay are overwhelming. As a single mom who works full-time and homeschools my son, it’s been difficult to manage the financial burden alone.

How You Can Help:

Donate: Any contribution would help cover the mounting medical bills.

Share: Spreading the word about our situation would mean the world to us.

I’m so thankful for the support we’ve received from my family, friends, and coworkers. Your kindness has been a light in this challenging time, and any help you can offer will make an incredible difference.

Thank you for taking the time to read our story and for any support you can provide.