Sami Fleming, a 20-year-old wife to Haden and mother to Liam (18 mos), was pregnant with her second child, a precious little girl, when she began to experience worrisome symptoms: double vision, splitting headaches, extreme issues with nausea, exhaustion, and syncope. When she sought medical care, Sami was repeatedly told that these symptoms were from being pregnant and sent back home. It turns out that these symptoms were something much worse.
On Sunday, April 20, 2025, at 30 weeks pregnant and after not being able to keep food down for multiple weeks or able to even keep water down for many days, she was finally admitted to the hospital and quickly transferred to a second hospital in Johnson City, TN, for preeclampsia. While there, she continued vomiting. During one bout of particularly bad nausea, she suddenly lost her vision and slumped over, presumed to have had a stroke or seizure. She was rushed into an emergency c-section, where doctors were able to deliver her sweet daughter, Adrianna, safely. Unfortunately, Sami's condition did not immediately improve, and initial scans indicated that she may have a significant brain bleed in her brain stem that would require an extensive and complicated surgery that could not be done at Johnson City. Sami was immediately flown to Knoxville, TN, to have a complex but life-saving surgery. Her husband was required to stay behind at Johnson City while baby Adrianna received care at the Johnson City NICU. A family member was able to pick up Liam and take them back to their home to care for him while Haden and Sarah stayed with Adrianna and Sami, respectively.
Monday, April 21, the neurosurgery team at UT Knoxville completed a long and ultimately successful surgery to remove what turned out to be a ping pong ball-sized tumor from Sami's brain stem. The tumor and tissue samples were sent for pathology testing while she was placed in the neurocritical care unit (ICU). Sami's mother, Sarah, joined her at the hospital to remain by her side through this long and arduous recovery.
Tuesday, April 22, and Wednesday, April 23, Sami spent very little time awake and presented with extreme agitation and confusion. The UT team worked hard to keep her comfortable and run the necessary follow-up tests to ensure that the surgery was successful and identify any other needs.
Late Wednesday, April 23, Sami's family was notified that the initial pathology results on the tumor indicated that it was cancerous.
Thursday, April 24, Sami's family was notified that she had pneumonia. Later in the day, they were informed that the latest MRI showed that the cancer had spread from her brain stem to her spine. The pathology result indicated that the tumor was "highly suspicious" for medulloblastoma, a pediatric brain cancer. Symptoms of medulloblastoma include: double vision, splitting headaches, extreme issues with nausea, exhaustion, and syncope... The exact symptoms that had been written off as symptoms of a tough pregnancy for weeks prior. Sami's family was informed that treatment for this type of cancer could not be completed at UT Knoxville, and she will likely be transferred to another hospital to receive treatment.
Sami and her family have demonstrated strength and resilience through an agonizing four days of ups and downs, and ultimately of significant and scary medical news. Thankfully, Haden's employer provides paid paternity leave, so he will continue to receive his salary for the first few weeks of this process as he cares for his new baby girl. Sarah, Sami's mother, is committed to staying with Sami and has temporarily relocated to Knoxville, making it impossible for her to continue to work. The drive from Johnson City to Knoxville is approximately 2 hours, and the drive back home from Knoxville is approximately 4.5 hours.
Adrianna's stay in the NICU is expected to last a minimum of two months, plus a current indefinite hospital stay for Sami as she recovers from brain surgery, endures rehab, and then begins cancer treatments, resulting in a significant burden on Haden and Sarah. Between food, lodging, and gas to get back and forth between the hospitals, and rare occasions when one of them can sneak away to visit Liam, Sami's family is staring down a stark financial reality.
If you are able, please consider donating to help offset the significant financial costs they are incurring, allowing them to focus solely on caring for their beloved wife and daughter without worrying about how they will pay their bills.
