My name is Kimberly, and I’m a hairstylist who has been part of our community for years. Recently, I was diagnosed with a large Vestibular Schwannoma, a non-cancerous tumor that has caused complete hearing loss in my left ear, balance issues, facial numbness, and severe headaches. The tumor is pressing on my brain, affecting my ear canal, jugular, and brain stem, and has even caused bone loss in my skull. Doctors believe I’ve had this since childhood, which is rare for someone my age. I will need a craniotomy to remove as much of the tumor as possible, followed by radiation therapy to keep it from growing. This means a hospital stay and a recovery period of up to 12 weeks before I can return to work.

Being out of work is a huge challenge for my family. My husband will also need to take time off to be with me during surgery and recovery, and our two-year-old son will be staying with family until I’m well enough to care for him again. We recently bought a new home, and with all my specialists and neurosurgeon based in Winston Salem, travel expenses are adding up quickly. We’re facing medical bills not covered by insurance, as well as everyday household expenses while both of us are unable to work.

We are so grateful for the kind words, support, and prayers we’ve received from our friends, family, and clients. Your generosity will help us cover travel, medical, and household bills during this difficult time, and bring us one step closer to getting our son back home and returning to the life we’ve worked so hard to build. We feel truly blessed to have such a strong support system, and I can’t wait to get back on my feet and back to the community I love.