Help me find out what’s wrong with my wife!

On February 28, 2022, my wife, Valerie Smith was on her way to a date with me when she started having trouble walking and didn’t know why. After that she started talking with a slur. Then she noticed she couldn’t write correctly and was seeing double. For over a year she has been to many different doctors trying to find out what’s wrong with her. The doctors thought that it was Parkinson’s disease but the medicine didn’t work. Then one day, her Oncologist, at her wits end, looked at the MRI one more time and questioned the 10mm Pineal cyst that was on the MRI report. A neurosurgeon said that it was too small to cause the symptoms.

This news devastated me, Valerie, her brother, Anthony, and her children. Valerie had just recovered from having Hodgkins Lymphoma and spending months on chemotherapy. Being in and out of the hospital because she had lost 85 pounds and couldn’t keep any food or liquids down. Sadly, the financial burden of her medical bills has made it difficult to make ends meet. Since she has been disabled, her brother Anthony and I, have literally been taking her everywhere because she can’t drive.

Valerie has not been able to get her insurance to pay for her to go to Shands Hospital, which is one of the best hospitals in Florida. She has a long journey ahead of her until she is back to her funny and goofy self that we all know and love. Any funds raised for her will go toward her hospital/doctors’ bills and related expenses (MRI’s, Pet-scans, rehab, and aftercare) that her insurance won’t pay. She is scheduled to go to Shands Hospital on November 7th.

A little more about Valerie:

Valerie is the one of the hardest-working and caring people I know. She volunteers at CitySide Suites and is always trying to help others in need.

Valerie is such an important person in our family. She is the mother of 5 children and we recently married as elementary sweethearts that have been in love with since she was 6 and I was 8. Valerie is only 53 years old.

We truly appreciate all the love, prayers, and donations that you all have given for Valerie during this difficult time. Thank you so much!

Lester Wayne Smith.