Help Me Get This Thing Out Of My Head

After years of suffering migraines and symptoms of memory loss, eye pain and pressure the doctors were able to find the cause. I received a call from my doctor on November 19th stating that I have a brain tumor behind my right eye; a "greater right wing sphenoid meningioma", which will require removal. The phone call lasted no more than 2 minutes and left me feeling scared for my life with the biggest fear of leaving my children behind. The surgery is scheduled for January 29 and will require the neurosurgeon to remove the right side of my skull, remove the tumor, cauterize the ends to inhibit further growth and remove the bone the tumor has grown into.
The brain tumor has already put a financial burden on my family. After raising four kids I still have two that are financially dependent on me. I have my son, Isaiah, who is 11 years old and my daughter, Kwincy, who is in her first year at college and is still partially dependent upon me. With my employer closing down so will my medical insurance unless I can pay the monthly premiums myself. This situation I find myself in has definitely put a great strain on my finances, emotional stress and thus affecting my health. While I wait for disability payments to begin the household bills continue to pour in and the medical premiums and co-pays continue to add to the mound of expenses. The stress of having a tumor is enough in itself, but when finances are tight the burden weighs heavier trying to support my family. Not only do I have the job as a parent of providing financially, I also have the job of maintaining the emotional stability of the family. I have always tried to look at the glass as half full and look at the positive outcomes of any of life's challenges. I'm sure once this is over and done with there will be new lessons I've learned and my hope is that the lesson will have been shared not only with my kids but with my family and friends as well.


My family and I appreciate all the prayers, thoughts, financial assistance, healing energy, and happy thoughts during this difficult time.
I look forward to a speedy recovery to get back to being me again.
Thank you,
Toni