I AM THE STORM - HEATHER'S FIGHT
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The devil whispered in my ear "You're not strong enough to withstand the storm."
Today I whispered in the devil's ear "I am the storm."
For those of you who know Heather, you know that she is the kindest, most energetic person you could know. Heather is a nurse supervisor at Holyoke Medical Center and a Family Nurse Practioner student at UMass, Amherst. On Sunday, September 25th while working at the Big E Heather began to experience weakness on her left side and literally overnight her whole world changed. An MRI at Holyoke Medical Center identified a mass on Heather's brain stem. After weeks of testing and finally brain surgery to biopsy the mass, Heather was diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumor called a Glioblastoma. The tumor that Heather has is located in the Pons area of the brain stem which was described by her doctors as "prime real estate" The Pons is a critical area of the brain which is crucial to life. It is responsible for vision, speech, swallowing, breathing and other motor skills. As a result of the tumor's location it is considered inoperable. Beginning Tuesday, October 25th Heather will begin a treatment plan which will include radiation therapy combined with oral chemotherapy. This treatment will continue 5 days a week for six weeks and will be followed by oral chemotherapy for up to two years. Heather is currently looking into all possible treatments to fight this aggressive tumor including clinical trials.
Currently as a result of her tumor, Heather is experiencing double vision, difficulties with her speech and loss of function on the left side of her body which have impacted her ability to walk and use of her left hand. She is currently staying at the Weldon Rehabilitation Hospital in Springfield to undergo accute rehab to help her regain her strength.
The goal of this page is to raise money to make sure that Heather has access to the best possible treatment options available in fighting this serious illness.
Any money that is not used to help Heather fight her illness will be donated to Glioblastoma research to help others facing this same battle.
Today I whispered in the devil's ear "I am the storm."
For those of you who know Heather, you know that she is the kindest, most energetic person you could know. Heather is a nurse supervisor at Holyoke Medical Center and a Family Nurse Practioner student at UMass, Amherst. On Sunday, September 25th while working at the Big E Heather began to experience weakness on her left side and literally overnight her whole world changed. An MRI at Holyoke Medical Center identified a mass on Heather's brain stem. After weeks of testing and finally brain surgery to biopsy the mass, Heather was diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumor called a Glioblastoma. The tumor that Heather has is located in the Pons area of the brain stem which was described by her doctors as "prime real estate" The Pons is a critical area of the brain which is crucial to life. It is responsible for vision, speech, swallowing, breathing and other motor skills. As a result of the tumor's location it is considered inoperable. Beginning Tuesday, October 25th Heather will begin a treatment plan which will include radiation therapy combined with oral chemotherapy. This treatment will continue 5 days a week for six weeks and will be followed by oral chemotherapy for up to two years. Heather is currently looking into all possible treatments to fight this aggressive tumor including clinical trials.
Currently as a result of her tumor, Heather is experiencing double vision, difficulties with her speech and loss of function on the left side of her body which have impacted her ability to walk and use of her left hand. She is currently staying at the Weldon Rehabilitation Hospital in Springfield to undergo accute rehab to help her regain her strength.
The goal of this page is to raise money to make sure that Heather has access to the best possible treatment options available in fighting this serious illness.
Any money that is not used to help Heather fight her illness will be donated to Glioblastoma research to help others facing this same battle.
Organizer and beneficiary
Brooke McMahon
Organizer
Holyoke, MA
Heather McMahon
Beneficiary
