Support Sue Francis' Fight for Healing

For those of you who know the Francis', it's a miracle they all have smiles on their faces every day!

For those of you who don't know them, let me tell you a little backstory.

Sue Francis was diagnosed with an Acoustic Neuroma in 2019. Her surgery was in August of 2019 to remove the tumor. Little did she know, this was just the beginning. During this surgery, she lost 100% of her hearing in her left ear. They then placed an internal hearing aid to help.

A few months later, she would come to find her body rejecting her stitches, and her hearing aid. Once the hearing aid was removed, her doctors were confident she would be all set with no foreign object in her body to reject. Just months later, she is back in the hospital entering into another surgery, to fix the rejection of her stitches that would never heal. Over the next 5 years, Sue has undergone over a dozen surgeries to "fix" her initial incision and clean out what they thought was infection coming back in the tissue surrounding her incision.

She has tried hyperbaric chambers, second and third opinions, PICC lines (more than 5), 2 ports in her chest. Her doctors then decided it was time to replace her infected tissue under her incision, with tissue and skin graft from her arm. This surgery took Sue down for months with recovery and follow up surgeries to continue to keep it clean. Months later, after realizing this was not the "fix" the doctors were all hoping for (failed surgery), Sue took the advice from her current surgeon and scheduled the biggest surgery she's had to date.

Sue just underwent another surgery on November 13th at Karmanos Hospital in downtown Detroit. This surgery included the shaving down of her skull, to hopefully find hidden infection inside the bone itself. To our luck, so much infection was found, they ended up spending 3 hours just working on grinding the infection out of her bone. Next, they opened her leg up to remove major muscle, to place on her skull to help rebuild and heal the incision. This surgery was projected to be 7 hours but ended up taking 12 hours total. With an open wound on her head, 5 drains, 1 port, her largest incision on her head, and a thigh length incision on her leg, we are praying this was the answer. We are praying HARD this was the answer.

Not only has Sue gone through 5 years or brain surgeries and a lot of unknown, so has her family. Sue is married to a Lieutenant for the Detroit Fire Department. He has managed to keep them afloat and together through this very difficult time for them. They have two incredible children, Tommy 16, and Violet 10. They both attend school through Warren Consolidated Schools and have learned to grow up fast over the last 5 years of watching their mom go through this life altering illness.

During these last 5 years, I haven't witnessed any of them with a frown on their faces. They haven't asked for help. They still continue to pour into their community and their families as much as they can. But this year, this surgery, this economy, this holiday, I'M asking for help. I don't know anyone more deserving than them.

If you have it in your heart, PLEASE send a prayer up today for this to be the last brain surgery Sue, and her family, have to face. If you have it in your budget this holiday, please consider donating to their GoFundMe.

I hope everyone has an amazing holiday season this year. Thank you for your prayers and support.

Here is an update directly from Sue's Facebook.

***Update Sat 11/23/24

Today is post op day 10. I'm feeling much better than the first few days. Those days in the beginning were pure agony. But, here we are, 4/5 drains removed, and getting ready to remove some of the sutures.

I was hoping to be home today, but getting everything ready with Homecare is taking longer because it's the weekend. We can get almost everything, but the actual supplies/antibiotics. Most likely I'll be here til Monday.

I have the absolute best staff taking care of me!! I'm very fortunate.

Please, keep praying that I continue to heal and get home soon. I miss my family so much!!!!

I underwent a significant surgical procedure 6 days ago on November 13th at Karmanos Cancer Hospital, following 5 yrs of debilitating symptoms after my Acoustic Neuroma removal. Despite numerous subsequent surgeries, complications persisted, including allergies and body rejection of ports, and DVTs. Dr. Hotaling, Dr. Raza, Dr. Chan, and Dr. Monday demonstrated exceptional expertise, listening and planning extensively. The Drs nurses and residents were truly heroic. The 12 hr surgery involved taking a leg muscle flap to fill a head cavity after Dr. Chan meticulously removed infected pus pockets in the bone. Although some disagreed with our approach, it proved to be precisely what my body needed. While painful, my leg heals better than expected, and I achieved walking a lap today! The flap will settle, requiring future surgery to close the top. I appreciate your continued prayers, as my recovery journey is ongoing. Thank you so very much! This has been a lot for our family to deal with, but Jay and kids are being Rockstars.

Love ya ❤️