Help My Sister Recover from Brain Surgery

Earlier this year, my sister Alisha started experiencing hearing loss, migraines, and ear/jaw pain. An MRI revealed that she has a tumor near the base of her skull (specifically, her jugular foramen). The doctors advised waiting 6 months to see if the tumor was dormant or actively growing. A second MRI this fall showed that the tumor had grown and was now pressing on her brain stem and the cranial nerves in her jugular foramen. Our family hoped Alisha could avoid surgery, but all of her medical tests indicate that the tumor will cause irreparable damage if it is not removed soon.

Alisha is scheduled to undergo a craniotomy (brain surgery) on Wednesday, December 15th, to remove the tumor. She will be in the hospital for up to a week and will be unable to work for two or three months while she recovers from this intensive surgical procedure. The road to recovery after surgery will be very long and hard. For months after surgery, she will probably have a reduction in attention span, decrease in balance, and difficulty remembering and articulating thoughts. Because of the location of the tumor, she may also have long-term complications from nerve damage--such as difficulty speaking, unilateral hearing loss, impaired shoulder movement, and trouble swallowing. Alisha will need a lot of support during her recovery period, possibly including a physical or speech therapist.

Before her diagnosis, Alisha and her husband Lance were in the process of buying a new townhouse. The townhouse was finally built in November, and they closed on their new home last week. My sister will be on leave-without-pay for an extended period of time and unable to contribute financially toward their new mortgage payments or her medical bills. This go fund me will help remove financial concerns so Alisha can focus her energy on resting and healing from the surgery. I know that the love and support she receives from family, friends, and colleagues will have a huge impact on her recovery.