Sabrina's brain surgery funding
Donation protected
My name is Bernardina (Coco) and we need your help. My oldest daughter Sabrina who is 30 years old received devastating news a few weeks ago. She needs brain surgery. She has been diagnosed with a (1.1x1.0x9cm) pineal cyst/ tumor.
For a young woman that has always been a dedicated hard worker and a beautiful artist. You can imagine the impact this horrified news has on her, family and friends.
I would appreciate all the help and prayers that she needs to save my daughters life.
For the past two years my daughter’s health has changed drastically. She started experiencing migraine headaches, swelling of the neck, fainting in public places, neck pain, night sweats and blurry vision. Her sleeping patterns began to be way off. She slept for hours at a time or stayed up for days.
She saw her primary care doctor and he prescribed her migraine meds and recommended natural melatonin to sleep better. This only worked for a short period of time. She figured this was stress related from studying too much and having a full time job. It began so hard for her to concentrate and to remember things she'd study and the worry of fainting again while she traveled alone.
She went to the ER, they did all types of different testing, nothing was revealed. Until she did a ultrasound of her neck and her doctor requested a MRI w/wout contrast. This when our lives changed. Her first MRI was on August 2014, the findings were a slight enlarged right jugular and a incidental finding of a 1.1 pineal gland cyst/tumor. Right away she was referred to see a neurologist for her fainting episodes and the cyst/ tumor. After all different testing, her doctor recommended another MRI in October 2014. It was mainly to focus on this pineal cyst/ tumor. She was told to only follow up with brain MRI's every six months to see if any changes were made on the cyst and to see a specialist for seizures. While waiting for her follow up, her symptoms began to worsen. The blurry vision, sleepless nights head pain, eye pain became unbearable. This began to affect her daily life, she ended up taking a break from school. She began to research and found 100's of people going through the same situation. She saw several specialist and doctors to find answers, which became very costly. She took several more tests and another MRI on January 2015 and in matter of months the cyst/tumor made its changes.
She knew then she had to find someone with the most experience and someone she can trust with her life. After tons of research she found Dr. Shahinian at the Skull Base Institute in Los Angeles, California. He invented the endoscopic procedure to remove tumors and cysts. He is one of four doctors in the world that perform this type of surgery. He agreed to meet with my daughter through skype and read her MRI's and tests and he agreed to help my daughter and save her life.
The surgery will be 2 hours which beats the odds of an 8 to 9 hour surgery. This decision wasn't any easy one for the both of us, but this is the only way my daughter can have her life back again. Sabrina was given a choice if she waited too long the cyst/ tumor will eventually grow and not know how drastic can affect her more. Its already causing pressure in other areas affecting her vision and eye movements. She doesn't have another year to wait. Sabrina will have to travel to Los Angeles and return after surgery. Her insurance will only cover a portion of the brain surgery, but there is a big amount to be paid as well as hospital and other testing she needs before and after surgery, and for her recovery.
<iframe media_type="0" media_id="9UEEisb-zKM" class="youtube-replace" title="YouTube video player" style="margin-bottom:20px;width:560px;height:315px;" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/9UEEisb-zKM/?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="1"></iframe>
So here I am a mother asking for a helping hand, so my daughter can keep living and continue her life. She can continue sharing her art, finish her schooling and put this to rest. Please help me raise the funds for my daughter to have this procedure. I am disabled mom and I cannot work, so this is the most I can do for her. I would appreciate anyway that you can help and please keep my daughter in your prayers.
For a young woman that has always been a dedicated hard worker and a beautiful artist. You can imagine the impact this horrified news has on her, family and friends.
I would appreciate all the help and prayers that she needs to save my daughters life.
For the past two years my daughter’s health has changed drastically. She started experiencing migraine headaches, swelling of the neck, fainting in public places, neck pain, night sweats and blurry vision. Her sleeping patterns began to be way off. She slept for hours at a time or stayed up for days.
She saw her primary care doctor and he prescribed her migraine meds and recommended natural melatonin to sleep better. This only worked for a short period of time. She figured this was stress related from studying too much and having a full time job. It began so hard for her to concentrate and to remember things she'd study and the worry of fainting again while she traveled alone.
She went to the ER, they did all types of different testing, nothing was revealed. Until she did a ultrasound of her neck and her doctor requested a MRI w/wout contrast. This when our lives changed. Her first MRI was on August 2014, the findings were a slight enlarged right jugular and a incidental finding of a 1.1 pineal gland cyst/tumor. Right away she was referred to see a neurologist for her fainting episodes and the cyst/ tumor. After all different testing, her doctor recommended another MRI in October 2014. It was mainly to focus on this pineal cyst/ tumor. She was told to only follow up with brain MRI's every six months to see if any changes were made on the cyst and to see a specialist for seizures. While waiting for her follow up, her symptoms began to worsen. The blurry vision, sleepless nights head pain, eye pain became unbearable. This began to affect her daily life, she ended up taking a break from school. She began to research and found 100's of people going through the same situation. She saw several specialist and doctors to find answers, which became very costly. She took several more tests and another MRI on January 2015 and in matter of months the cyst/tumor made its changes.
She knew then she had to find someone with the most experience and someone she can trust with her life. After tons of research she found Dr. Shahinian at the Skull Base Institute in Los Angeles, California. He invented the endoscopic procedure to remove tumors and cysts. He is one of four doctors in the world that perform this type of surgery. He agreed to meet with my daughter through skype and read her MRI's and tests and he agreed to help my daughter and save her life.
The surgery will be 2 hours which beats the odds of an 8 to 9 hour surgery. This decision wasn't any easy one for the both of us, but this is the only way my daughter can have her life back again. Sabrina was given a choice if she waited too long the cyst/ tumor will eventually grow and not know how drastic can affect her more. Its already causing pressure in other areas affecting her vision and eye movements. She doesn't have another year to wait. Sabrina will have to travel to Los Angeles and return after surgery. Her insurance will only cover a portion of the brain surgery, but there is a big amount to be paid as well as hospital and other testing she needs before and after surgery, and for her recovery.
<iframe media_type="0" media_id="9UEEisb-zKM" class="youtube-replace" title="YouTube video player" style="margin-bottom:20px;width:560px;height:315px;" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/9UEEisb-zKM/?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="1"></iframe>
So here I am a mother asking for a helping hand, so my daughter can keep living and continue her life. She can continue sharing her art, finish her schooling and put this to rest. Please help me raise the funds for my daughter to have this procedure. I am disabled mom and I cannot work, so this is the most I can do for her. I would appreciate anyway that you can help and please keep my daughter in your prayers.
Organizer
Sabrina Mendez
Organizer
Yonkers, NY