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Erica's Brain Tumor Medical Fund

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In January 2015, I had influenza and bronchitis. For about a month, I had a headache every day. I thought it was the coughing that had my neck out of joint, which was giving me a headache. Then, on Super Bowl Sunday I went to the grocery store.  All of sudden, I was dizzy, my vision became very pinpointed, and my limbs were tingling. I held onto the cart, paid, and went to my car until the feelings went away; I forgot about them. Then, on February 9, 2015, I had it again. All the same feelings, but this time at work. I had my co-worker call an ambulance. Once they showed up I don't remember anything for many, many hours later.

Later that night, the hospital staff told me that after a CT scan and an MRI that I had a brain tumor, a stage 4 glioblastoma, which is an aggressive form of brain tumor.  It was/is between the temporal and frontal lobes of my speech patterns. It's not gone. I went to Billings, MT to see a neurosurgeon. Dr. Lopez-Gonzales scheduled me for a biopsy on February 16. Because the tumor was in my speech patterns they had speech pathologists in the operating room during surgery. The anesthesiologist brought me out of sleep so I could talk to them. If I felt anything I told them and he would numb me up.

Afterwords, I stayed in the hospital a couple days and went home. A couple weeks later I went back up to see the surgeon, get stitches out and get the results. The results were not good. It's malignant. They had to do surgery again to get more out, then follow with radiation and chemo pills. Once again, I was back in Billings, MT, on March 9th to have surgery again. The surgery was difficult. The tumor was three times bigger than originally sized and it ran into an artery on my skull. Dr. Lopez thinks he got 90-95% of the tumor but couldn't do more. 

Now, I'm working with a radiation oncologist, Dr. Schallenkamp, and a medical oncologist, Dr. Marino, here in Sheridan, WY. I've decided that I need my life to be as normal as possible and still raise my kids. Hopefully, I'll start treatment this week, but until it starts I have no idea how I'll feel. I'll keep you updated as it goes along. 

Meanwhile, I've started getting bills from the Sheridan Hospital, etc., nothing from the Billings Clinic Hospital yet. I already owe $1800 for just the Sheridan Hospital when I went on February 9th.  Anything anyone could donate to me would be greatly appreciated, but I'll just take your positive thoughts, too!
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Donations 

  • Kurt Nelson
    • $50 
    • 8 yrs
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Organizer

Erica Hanson O'Dell
Organizer
Sheridan, WY

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