Support Mark Tassin's Recovery Journey

**Update:**

We want to sincerely thank everyone for their kindness and generosity—our family is beyond grateful for the support you’ve shown. It was incredible to reach the initial goal, and we truly appreciate every single donation.

Mark’s recovery is progressing very well, and we’re so encouraged by his strength and determination. However, he is still having to pay out of pocket for his therapy sessions, which has put financial strain on him.

To help him continue these crucial sessions, we’ve raised the goal. If you’re able to donate or even just share this fundraiser, it would mean the world to us. Thank you again for being part of Mark’s journey—we couldn’t do this without you!

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Please help support Mark & his family during his road to recovery. The Tassin family wishes to assist with his medical bills and expenses.

Megan Zerangue Tassin (Wife):

Mark and I have been together for 14 years. We got married on November 10, 2012. Less than a year after, our vows ‘In sickness and in health’ were tested. In August 2013, Mark began having severe nosebleeds, new onset sinus pain, and passing out. He went to Dr. Chastant, ENT and they immediately realized something was going on. He had his first sinus surgery in October 2013. It showed an overgrowth of polyps in his sinuses, Inverting papilloma, and he did a biopsy of a suspicious area.

The biopsy came back, and in that office, we were told the news: it was Cancer of the ethmoid sinuses. Mark had a second sinus surgery in November 2013 to help with further congestion. By December 2013, he began having excruciating headaches and neck pain, sensitivity to light and sound. MRI of the brain showed a golf ball-sized tumor pressing on the brain, behind the right eye. Dr. Chastant called me immediately to take Mark to the hospital.

Throughout all of this, Megan was an RN on the oncology floor at Lafayette General. Mark was directly admitted to Lafayette General, began IV pain control. The next day we met with the neurosurgeon and planned for a craniotomy to remove the tumor and repair the outer protective layer of the brain that was damaged when the cancer metastasized.

Once Mark recovered enough from the Craniotomy, he had 6 months of Chemotherapy and 28 treatments of very heavy and intense radiation. Due to the radiation to the Brain and head areas, he suffered from loss of taste, loss of smell, mouth ulcers. Mark eventually completed treatments, healed from surgery, and finally in May 2014 he was deemed in remission from Cancer.

Throughout the next 10 years, Mark has had many side effects from the intense radiation to the brain and head. He has developed cataracts and glaucoma and will need Cataract surgery to correct this. Radiation causes severe dryness to the mouth, and damaged his teeth so he will eventually need dentures. He still doesn’t have much of a sense of smell, that’s why he loves spicy food!

In 2022, Mark started having ‘staring off’ episodes with trouble talking afterwards. He was referred to a neurologist, and eventually we got answers. He was diagnosed with Absent seizures from the damage radiation therapy caused back in 2014. He was tried on a couple different seizure medications. The seizures did a lot of damage too; they would cause his blood pressure to spike, he would have trouble talking after, and it affected his memory.

Then 10 years later, another unthinkable thing happens. October 19, 2024, Mark woke up that morning and could not walk. He had slurred speech, right face paralysis and right arm and leg could barely move. Acadian Ambulance brought him to Our lady of Lourdes and began stroke protocol. He had multiple scans, tests, and procedures but the MRI of the brain showed a left lacunar basal ganglia stroke. The basal ganglia area of the brain controls voluntary movement, decision-making, emotional regulation, and working memory.

Mark still has effects including speech, memory, and right arm and leg paralysis. He was transferred to inpatient rehab at Lafayette Physical Rehab Hospital to continue intensive speech, physical and occupational therapies. But even after this he will need long term therapy to continue the recovery process, and unable to work for an unknown amount of time.

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Funds donated will be used to assist Mark & his family with medical bills and other expences incurred during his recovery process.

THANK YOU