Support Michelle's brain surgery recovery

About a year ago, Michelle was diagnosed with acoustic neuroma, a benign brain tumor on the main nerve from the inner ear to the brain, pressing on the brain stem. It has affected her hearing, balance, and has caused nerve pain and severe migraines.

It has been very scary and stressful for Michelle and her loved ones! Nevertheless, Michelle did a lot of research, advocated for herself and consulted with surgeons and hospitals around the country to find the right surgeon to do the right procedure to remove the tumor.

On August 15, Michelle had the surgery in New York City to remove the acoustic neuroma. Surgery went very well! In 11 hours, the surgical team removed 99% of the tumor. Everything looks good and Michelle has started the long road of recovery. She is now out of hospital and staying in a hotel nearby so that she can go in for checkups until her doctors clear her to go home. She is still suffering from intense headaches and nausea which are normal after a surgery of this kind.

Recovery from this type of brain surgery generally takes 6 to 12 weeks. During this time, Michelle is unable to work, and I'm sure her students at Delgado Community College and Southern New Hampshire University miss her kind and caring teaching! Did you know that Michelle has been teaching herself Chinese and improving her Spanish to better support her students?

So we, her friends, are making this GoFundMe to help Michelle with out-of-pocket medical bills, hotel and travel expenses, and general living expenses such as rent, utilities, insurance, food, etc. during her recovery. Let's be there for her so she can focus all her energy on getting better after having a walnut-sized tumor removed from her brain!

Anything that you can offer will help - thank you so much!

8/21 update: thank you for all your support! Today Michelle walked a couple blocks to a fruit stand and got some plums and blueberries. She also walked to dinner. And she got bubble tea! Michelle has to walk to regain her balance, but it's difficult due to fatigue, dizziness, nausea. I hope that with your support, she can get many tasty treats in New York, appetite allowing. -Lok