Dear Friends & Family,

This is the hardest thing I’ve ever had to write.

Late last year I was diagnosed with a Grade 1 Meningioma, a brain tumor located near critical nerves and I will soon begin six weeks of radiation treatment. I also lost my job last winter. If you know me, you probably know that asking for help does not come naturally to me. I’ve always been someone who works hard and takes pride in my independence. The last few months have been life changing, and after much thought and consideration, I’ve decided to make this page.

Here’s My Story:

After a long stretch of symptoms that didn’t make sense and a lot of uncertainty, doctors discovered that I have a Grade 1 Meningioma, a type of brain tumor that is generally considered benign.

Hearing the words "mass" and "tumor" in the ER is something I will never forget. One moment life felt normal, and the next I was suddenly sitting in rooms with specialists, learning medical terminology and trying to imagine my future.

While Grade 1 Meningiomas are often described as slow-growing, the location of mine makes things much more complicated. The tumor sits in the right cavernous sinus, an area filled with critical nerves for eye movements, facial movements and vision for my right eye. Because of where it is, treatment requires extreme care.

After months of testing, appointments, surgeries and consultations, my doctors recommended fractionated radiation therapy, which means receiving radiation treatments every weekday for six weeks. The goal is to control tumor growth while protecting the delicate structures around it.

Even with this careful approach, radiation to the brain can still come with difficult side effects including severe fatigue, inflammation, headaches, facial numbness, neurological symptoms, hair loss and even blindness in some rare cases. Recovery will take time, and my doctors have made it clear that my focus during this period needs to be on healing.

As many of you know, I've also been living with Lupus since 2009, a chronic autoimmune disease that affects my immune system, energy levels and brings unpredictable flares. Facing radiation treatment on top of that places an enormous strain on my body and my ability maintain normal daily life.

The diagnosis process was lengthy and I had many doctor's appointments that led to the loss of my job. Losing my income while facing a serious medical condition has been incredibly difficult to navigate.

With the help of a social worker, I’ve applied for assistance programs and grants where I can, but those systems do take time and aren’t guaranteed. Radiation treatment will require daily appointments for six weeks, and from what my doctors have explained, recovery afterward can take significant time. Realistically, I may not be able to return to full-time work while my body heals and doctors monitor how the tumor responds to treatment.

There are days when I feel so strong and hopeful. And there are days when the weight of everything - the diagnosis, the uncertainty, the financial stress - feels incredibly heavy and lonely.

Creating this fundraiser wasn’t an easy decision. My independence has always been important to me, but several people in my life encouraged me to share my story and allow others the opportunity to help if they are able.

The funds raised here will go directly toward:

If you’re able to contribute, your generosity would mean more than I can put into words. And if donating isn’t possible, sharing this page or keeping me in your thoughts means just as much.

Right now my focus is on getting through treatment and taking care of my health. I have to believe that things will get better on the other side of this.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story and for supporting me in any way you can.

All the gratitude and love,

Gabby Wisler

PS. If you want to follow along my radiation journey, follow me on TikTok here @GabbyWisler

My mom, two sisters and I during Christmas patiently waiting for my Nuclear PET scan results:

Post Brain Tumor Biopsy in February enjoying some iced tea: