Stephanie's Medical Fund
Donation protected
Stephanie “Bee” Ratsachak is a vivacious, spirited 26-year-old with a profound love for EMD music, hiking, life, and all things around it. Armed with a contagious loud laughter and ambitious personality, she worked long hours between two-to-three hospitals while attempting to finish her nursing program. Stephanie was recently diagnosed with an aggressive 2.5 cm brain tumor called myxoid neoplasm sarcoma caused by a sarcoid disease related to Sarcoidosis. So far she’s had 2-skull surgery in less than 3 months that forced her to drop out of school and take time off from work. Her first operation was in May, and the second surgery was on August 11, 2016. After more than 8 hours of surgery, and 3 areas of battle scars, she’s up cracking jokes and smiling through the pain.
Almost a year ago, Stephanie was diagnosed with Bell’s Palsy on the right side of her face.. In early January of this year she was diagnosed with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo and woke up one morning in February to discover hearing loss on the right ear. She was rushed to urgent care when they diagnosed her with Eustachian Tube Dysfunction. The physician finally referred her to an ear, nose, throat and sinus specialist (ENT). The ENT, Dr. Aoiki took multiple MRI’s in March and the results showed signs of a brain tumor that looked like an acoustic neuroma due to the hearing loss. He recommended a serial audiometry to observe the tumor because of Stephanie’s progressive hearing loss.
After ongoing doctors visits and a few months of waiting, the neurosurgeon - Dr. Shelton and his research team said that the tumor was solid (the size of a golf ball) and planned for a longer surgery on May 11th. When we went in for her pre-op appointment, Dr. Shelton changed his mind and said that her tumor was liquid so the length of surgery would shortened to 5-6 hours. On the day-of Stephanie’s surgery, Dr. Shelton came out of the operating room 5 hours later to give us traumatizing news that he couldn’t remove her tumor because it was solid. The inconsistent information that we received from Dr. Shelton made Stephanie and our family extremely nervous and discomforting. Dr. Shelton took a biopsy and sent it the 3 pathologists for review that took almost 1 dreadful month for the final results…. On July 14th -- for the first time, Stephanie felt an actual relief and some signs of reassurance from her new neurosurgeon, Dr.Macdonald and ENT, Dr. Gurgel who conducted the 2nd Surgery on Wednesday, August 17, 2016... Over 30 staples in her head, the recovery and therapy has become overwhelming for Stephanie in the past weeks.. She hated being in the ICU and worried about the cost of hospital bills so she requested for an early discharge. She is home resting in her comforting bed, eating her favorite chocolate chips mint ice cream before taking 10 different medications. She has a long road for recovery and we are so very grateful for the emmensive love, thoughts, and prayers.
With almost a week stay in the Intensive Care Unit, 2 surgery in less than 3 months, and estimated future plans of 1 month physical therapy, chemotherapy-or radiation (TBD), and future hearing-aid for her right ear -- the hospital bills have sky-rocketed. Stephanie’s mom and step-dad work two jobs, but the income earned is minimal. Stephanie is not able to work for a while, so she has no way of financially supporting herself and has moved home to be in the care of her mom. She will have doctors visits periodically and therapy sessions begins next month. We are asking one and all to donate any amount they can afford. No donation is too small. You can give Stephanie the hope for a brighter future and hope to regain her hearing. "We make a living by what we get but we change a life by what we give." -Winston Churchhill
Thank you all in advance for your prayers, support, and donations...Love One Another.
With Appreciation & Love (God Bless),
The Ratsachak Family
Almost a year ago, Stephanie was diagnosed with Bell’s Palsy on the right side of her face.. In early January of this year she was diagnosed with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo and woke up one morning in February to discover hearing loss on the right ear. She was rushed to urgent care when they diagnosed her with Eustachian Tube Dysfunction. The physician finally referred her to an ear, nose, throat and sinus specialist (ENT). The ENT, Dr. Aoiki took multiple MRI’s in March and the results showed signs of a brain tumor that looked like an acoustic neuroma due to the hearing loss. He recommended a serial audiometry to observe the tumor because of Stephanie’s progressive hearing loss.
After ongoing doctors visits and a few months of waiting, the neurosurgeon - Dr. Shelton and his research team said that the tumor was solid (the size of a golf ball) and planned for a longer surgery on May 11th. When we went in for her pre-op appointment, Dr. Shelton changed his mind and said that her tumor was liquid so the length of surgery would shortened to 5-6 hours. On the day-of Stephanie’s surgery, Dr. Shelton came out of the operating room 5 hours later to give us traumatizing news that he couldn’t remove her tumor because it was solid. The inconsistent information that we received from Dr. Shelton made Stephanie and our family extremely nervous and discomforting. Dr. Shelton took a biopsy and sent it the 3 pathologists for review that took almost 1 dreadful month for the final results…. On July 14th -- for the first time, Stephanie felt an actual relief and some signs of reassurance from her new neurosurgeon, Dr.Macdonald and ENT, Dr. Gurgel who conducted the 2nd Surgery on Wednesday, August 17, 2016... Over 30 staples in her head, the recovery and therapy has become overwhelming for Stephanie in the past weeks.. She hated being in the ICU and worried about the cost of hospital bills so she requested for an early discharge. She is home resting in her comforting bed, eating her favorite chocolate chips mint ice cream before taking 10 different medications. She has a long road for recovery and we are so very grateful for the emmensive love, thoughts, and prayers.
With almost a week stay in the Intensive Care Unit, 2 surgery in less than 3 months, and estimated future plans of 1 month physical therapy, chemotherapy-or radiation (TBD), and future hearing-aid for her right ear -- the hospital bills have sky-rocketed. Stephanie’s mom and step-dad work two jobs, but the income earned is minimal. Stephanie is not able to work for a while, so she has no way of financially supporting herself and has moved home to be in the care of her mom. She will have doctors visits periodically and therapy sessions begins next month. We are asking one and all to donate any amount they can afford. No donation is too small. You can give Stephanie the hope for a brighter future and hope to regain her hearing. "We make a living by what we get but we change a life by what we give." -Winston Churchhill
Thank you all in advance for your prayers, support, and donations...Love One Another.
With Appreciation & Love (God Bless),
The Ratsachak Family
Organizer and beneficiary
Lynnda RatSa-chak
Organizer
San Diego, CA
Stephanie Ratsachak
Beneficiary