Help My Sister Fight Her Brain Tumor

My sister is currently hospitalized with a cancerous brain tumor, a cyst, and significant edema (swelling) in her brain. She’s an inpatient at Springfield CoxHealth, room 845, about 1.5 hours from home, and will remain there through at least Saturday morning while doctors run full-body scans to check for additional tumors and perform a functional MRI to determine if and how her tumor can be safely removed.

In addition to symptoms caused by the tumor, she is now considered at risk for seizures. She’s being treated with steroids to reduce brain swelling, insulin, and continues thyroid care. Her medical team has also placed her on a strict diet requiring 180g of protein daily to support her body during this time.

Once the scans are complete, her doctors will decide if surgery is possible, and when and where it will take place.

We’re creating this GoFundMe to help cover the many unexpected costs that come with a serious diagnosis like this, including:

• Meals & comfort care while she’s in the hospital

• Home health support after discharge

• Gas & travel expenses for appointments 1.5 hours away

• Copays & out-of-pocket costs

• Treatment plans not fully covered by insurance

Any amount helps. Thank you for supporting her through this incredibly difficult time.

Update 06/29/25

Johanna posted on her Facebook page:

All of us completely prepped for brain surgery, the surgeon stormed into my room, pacing and wringing his hands. His staff averted their eyes and never looked up as he truly fell apart telling me he just won’t do the surgery. Of all the things I expected the unexpected to be, this was one I had not considered. I started to talk him down because he was clearly distraught on a personal level and console him, but quickly realized that whether he was the one or not, he was in no condition to operate on me for the rest of the day. Many words came from his mouth that there is no way he meant the emotional tirade about the surgery, the staff, me, the scans, but I gathered it to be that he was AFRAID. Perhaps this was his way of fulfilling his commitment to not do something beyond his ability. Ultimately he didn’t believe he was the fit for it, and chose that moment to communicate unprofessionally, but make the critical decision instead of what could have been too late. I was left reeling, hungry, sanitized, exposed, but oddly curious about God’s bigger plan and reasons beyond our comprehension. Prayers get answered in ways we don’t understand BUT THEY GET ANSWERED! Not a single prayer for my surgery scheduled for today is wasted. Every prayer is answered. It is so much bigger than us.

The thing to understand is people no matter who they may be, their skill, their fame, their fortune, their position …are just human. We all require moments to not be our greatest and face our weakness. We somehow require compassion from the people we should be extending it towards! I may have choked back some tears from the shocking things he said and the way he left me, but the facts remain that this will be for the best. Maybe he is on his search for peace and contentment in his life perspective towards himself and nothing anyone could say could help him to that. His staff say he has not been doing well personally.

Then I waited for surgery, prepped and not eating until after 3 because only a neurosurgeon could make the call on the timing of my need. I was mostly in and out of sleep, just continuing to push through symptoms. The embarrassment of this dr’s fellow staff and the hospital has been profound, to say the least. And now! I undergo more tests for the new neurosurgeon who plans to operate WEDNESDAY morning. I’m still in CoxSouth Room 845.