Gigi's Support Fund
Donation protected
Gigi is the beloved niece of Cheli Hernandez, who has been in my life as a dear friend, helper at VanDamme Academy, and my children's nanny for the last 16 years. Until a few months ago, Gigi was a happy, healthy, 14-year-old girl leading a normal life.
Late last year, Gigi began complaining of double vision in one eye and hearing loss in one ear. After seeing an eye doctor and an ENT, she was referred for an MRI. They found a brain tumor.
She underwent surgery last week. They were able to remove only part of the tumor, and will have to do another surgery in 6 months. Post-surgery, she has lost all her hearing in her left ear, she continues to have double vision in her left eye, and - perhaps worst of all from the perspective of a young girl - she is suffering facial palsy on the left side of her face. Aside from the fear that she will never look the same, she is so far unable to eat, because her throat feels partially paralyzed and she can't swallow for fear of choking.
Gigi's family are some of the kindest, most hard-working, self-reliant people I know. Gigi's mother will be unable to work for the foreseeable future, because she needs to be at Gigi's side. Please help through this extraordinarily difficult time. Things were hard for them financially before all this - I can only imagine the struggles they face ahead.
Late last year, Gigi began complaining of double vision in one eye and hearing loss in one ear. After seeing an eye doctor and an ENT, she was referred for an MRI. They found a brain tumor.
She underwent surgery last week. They were able to remove only part of the tumor, and will have to do another surgery in 6 months. Post-surgery, she has lost all her hearing in her left ear, she continues to have double vision in her left eye, and - perhaps worst of all from the perspective of a young girl - she is suffering facial palsy on the left side of her face. Aside from the fear that she will never look the same, she is so far unable to eat, because her throat feels partially paralyzed and she can't swallow for fear of choking.
Gigi's family are some of the kindest, most hard-working, self-reliant people I know. Gigi's mother will be unable to work for the foreseeable future, because she needs to be at Gigi's side. Please help through this extraordinarily difficult time. Things were hard for them financially before all this - I can only imagine the struggles they face ahead.
Organizer and beneficiary
Lisa VanDamme
Organizer
San Juan Capistrano, CA
Jesus Hernandez
Beneficiary