Marie Collum Medical Expences
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For 2 years I suffered with servere headaches, blurred vision, dizziness & flu like symptoms. At times I felt like blood vessels were popping in my head. So after many doctor visits, 2 MRIs & a CT Scan I was diagnosed with a 20mm Skull Based Brain Tumor also known as Clival Meningioma on December 15, 2015.
(1st MRI)
On March 3, 2016 I than traveled to St. Paul MN where I stayed for 10 days. While there I had a Cerebral Angiogram done & met with the surgeon Dr. E Nessbum. At this time he decided the less invasive approach to remove the Tumor would be through the nose. However since the Tumor had pressed into my skull causing a small hole, he was unable to remove the whole Tumor. He feared the Tumor was acting as a plug & if removed Cerebral Spinal Fluid could leak out.
On March 8, 2016 I had my first surgery. At this time he was only able to remove 5mm of the Tumor, due to its risky location. The Tumor was than biopsied. When the results came back it showed a Chordoma Tumor, which is a rare type of Cancer that occurs in the bones of the skull base & spine.
(After Surgery)
On March 12, 2016 I was released from the hospital in St. Paul MN. Upon returning home I had to be oxygen for a month as I couldn't keep my O2 levels up, had plugs in my nose for 3weeks so my nose wouldn't collapse & traveled to St. Paul MN once a month for 6months to have my nose flushed . I than tried to return back to my everyday life. But at this time despite all the medical issues I was having I was a heavy drinker, thinking that it would help to manage the pain, but I soon realized it was not helping. So on February 17, 2018 I made the decision to quit drinking & stay sober. I reached out to close friends & family for support & attended AA meetings. But after 2 long years, many servere headaches & a MRI it was to late, my Tumor Has Grown Back.
(6/8/2018)
On May 30, 2018 I had a phone conference with Dr. L Nessbum in St. Paul MN. She than sent my MRI films to the Mayo Clinic in Rodchester MN for a second opinion & also discussed the films with the radiology team in St. Paul. The team has chosen to keep me out of the OR due to the fact that its a very risky surgery because of the location of the Tumor & I had many serious complications with the first surgery that I almost didn't make it. So it has been decided that I will be needing 3-5 treatments of Radiosurgery, surgery using Radiation. Which costs about $15,000 each. Which also requires me to stay in St. Paul MN in a hotel close to the hospital for 4-6days, as I will be getting 1 treatment everyday, depending on how many treatments I need & they wont know for sure until the treatments start. At this time I currently do not have insurance, but am working with someone so that I will be covered but we all know that insurance does not cover everything. I do also have a lot of out-of-pocket expenses including transportation to MN, lodging, food, medications & after care along with hours missed at work to have these treatments done. Its also very important that I have these treatments done as if I don't I will end up Paralyzed.
So at this time any Support, Continuous Prayers & Donations would be Greatly Appreciated.
I Would Like To Thank You All For Taking The Time To Read My Story. -GOD BLESS
Not Going Down Without A Fight,
#TeamWeeWee
For 2 years I suffered with servere headaches, blurred vision, dizziness & flu like symptoms. At times I felt like blood vessels were popping in my head. So after many doctor visits, 2 MRIs & a CT Scan I was diagnosed with a 20mm Skull Based Brain Tumor also known as Clival Meningioma on December 15, 2015.
(1st MRI)On March 3, 2016 I than traveled to St. Paul MN where I stayed for 10 days. While there I had a Cerebral Angiogram done & met with the surgeon Dr. E Nessbum. At this time he decided the less invasive approach to remove the Tumor would be through the nose. However since the Tumor had pressed into my skull causing a small hole, he was unable to remove the whole Tumor. He feared the Tumor was acting as a plug & if removed Cerebral Spinal Fluid could leak out.
On March 8, 2016 I had my first surgery. At this time he was only able to remove 5mm of the Tumor, due to its risky location. The Tumor was than biopsied. When the results came back it showed a Chordoma Tumor, which is a rare type of Cancer that occurs in the bones of the skull base & spine.
(After Surgery)On March 12, 2016 I was released from the hospital in St. Paul MN. Upon returning home I had to be oxygen for a month as I couldn't keep my O2 levels up, had plugs in my nose for 3weeks so my nose wouldn't collapse & traveled to St. Paul MN once a month for 6months to have my nose flushed . I than tried to return back to my everyday life. But at this time despite all the medical issues I was having I was a heavy drinker, thinking that it would help to manage the pain, but I soon realized it was not helping. So on February 17, 2018 I made the decision to quit drinking & stay sober. I reached out to close friends & family for support & attended AA meetings. But after 2 long years, many servere headaches & a MRI it was to late, my Tumor Has Grown Back.
(6/8/2018)On May 30, 2018 I had a phone conference with Dr. L Nessbum in St. Paul MN. She than sent my MRI films to the Mayo Clinic in Rodchester MN for a second opinion & also discussed the films with the radiology team in St. Paul. The team has chosen to keep me out of the OR due to the fact that its a very risky surgery because of the location of the Tumor & I had many serious complications with the first surgery that I almost didn't make it. So it has been decided that I will be needing 3-5 treatments of Radiosurgery, surgery using Radiation. Which costs about $15,000 each. Which also requires me to stay in St. Paul MN in a hotel close to the hospital for 4-6days, as I will be getting 1 treatment everyday, depending on how many treatments I need & they wont know for sure until the treatments start. At this time I currently do not have insurance, but am working with someone so that I will be covered but we all know that insurance does not cover everything. I do also have a lot of out-of-pocket expenses including transportation to MN, lodging, food, medications & after care along with hours missed at work to have these treatments done. Its also very important that I have these treatments done as if I don't I will end up Paralyzed.
So at this time any Support, Continuous Prayers & Donations would be Greatly Appreciated.
I Would Like To Thank You All For Taking The Time To Read My Story. -GOD BLESS
Not Going Down Without A Fight,
#TeamWeeWee
Organizer
Marie Collum
Organizer
Aberdeen, SD
