Help Michelle Get Brain Tumor Treatment

*Please excuse any typos and grammatical errors. If you know me, I suck at typing anything on my phone, and this is me quickly typing up things on my phone while on a hospital bed or in a vehicle headed towards a clinical center.*

Long story short, got diagnosed with a brain tumor at the end of August 2021 > ended up at Johns Hopkins ER and then ICU and got surgery > got discharged and had follow-up appts Sept-Nov 2021 > brain tumor was uncategorizable, so it got escalated to NIH in Dec 2021 > now working with NIH Clinical Center team to get MRIs and monitor my brain tumor > end of March right now, and some of the pre-surgery symptoms are back.

9/6/2021

Got admitted to the hospital at night. Couple of hours later, got transferred into the neurosurgery ICU department and got a hospital bed there. Amazing care (seriously) and was able to talk to a doctor early this morning to discuss the tumor and the need for surgery tomorrow. Need to get a. 2.5 hour scan first (brain MRI, spine MRI, and CT) for more clarity. Grateful for all these medical staff and excited for my coffee and breakfast. (My fast is over at midnight!!!)

9/5/2021

Wow… this headache hurts so much. Just got admitted to the Johns Hopkins emergency room but am still waiting over five hours… I communicated my pain to them, yet the hospital isn’t able to do anything until I get a hospital bed. But they don’t know when a hospital bed will be open. Debating if I should just leave and take a  bunch of pain killers. This is bad. 

9/2/2021

Got MRI with contrast and got the same radiologist report with a need for a deeper dive with a neurosurgeon. There is a higher likelihood that it’s a benign tumor, which I’m grateful for. But also a higher likelihood that I need surgery LOL. 

Headaches are back full force thanks to using up my steroids, but oh well. Will keep you all posted with updates! 

Please do not be offended if I do not respond. I am taking time away from screens as much as possible, as they are giving me headaches. Thanks for your understanding. 

8/30/2021

Turns out I have brain tumor, requiring more testing to see if it’s benign and visits to a neurosurgeon who can prescribe potential solutions… really crossing my fingers to NOT have surgery. There is an increased need for medical cost coverage. I would really appreciate your support! 

8/26/2021

Hi, my name is Michelle, and I am a young 20s professional in Washington, DC supporting myself and my sister. I developed a debilitating headache/migraine in the past 2 months that has been worsening. I've tried all kinds of potential pain relievers including more sleep, meditation, massages, and over-the-counter medications that offered little to no help. My worsening headache led me to ultimately quit my job and try to find some solace in my current time off of work.

Last night, however, I got a frantic call from a physician affiliated with the clinic I sometimes went to while employed. She somehow saw my patient portal messages from a few weeks ago and reached out to let me know that my headache doesn't seem quite right (it shouldn't last this long) and highly encouraged me to get an MRI. 

Unfortunately, given that I do not have any health insurance coverage and am continuing to support my sister and I in an expensive city, I have come to my wit's end and am asking for your help. I would appreciate any and all donations to support me in getting an MRI and making the necessary doctor's appointments to get to the bottom of this headache.

Usually I wouldn't go this far to ask for help (or even get an MRI due to costs), but I have previous experience 5 years ago where a random pharmacist at a local Korean store told me that I had to bring my dad to the emergency room ASAP, and it did turn out to be a severe, lethal condition that required immediate surgery. So... I'm playing it safe!

Thank you in advance, and I hope to return with some good news after receiving an MRI.

With much gratitude,

Michelle