Help Somalia Knight Fight a Brain Tumor!

Hello Everyone! My name is Somalia Knight, a 30-year-old fashion model, mentor, and activist living in NYC! For the past 8-9 months I’ve been suffering chronic pain in my jaw and face, which I later found out is a disorder called Trigeminal Neuralgia, also known as the Suicide disorder that is caused by a golf ball-sized brain tumor! Here is my story:

I tried working through the inconsistent yet electrifying pain and was pretty successful until February 2023. I finally had to go to the emergency dentist because I was unable to eat, talk or move my jaw without being in excruciating pain. I went to the dentist because I thought I had a really bad cavity. The dentists couldn’t find anything wrong with the teeth in the area I was experiencing pain and thought the pain was being transferred from the upper jaw to the bottom. Since then I’ve gotten 2 root canals, an impacted wisdom tooth removed and a cavity filled all while in this shocking inconsistent pain. One dentist finally told me that they don’t think the pain is related to my teeth at all and more so my nerves, it could've been Trigeminal Neuralgia. She scheduled me with an oral-facial surgeon but was booked until May 30th.

I decided to take things into my own hands and researched different doctors in NYC and lucked out with one very knowledgeable about Trigeminal Neuralgia. I Had an appointment with his team and finally had a breakthrough, I was prescribed the correct pain therapy! It was a great day because the pain I had been experiencing for months now had a name.

Trigeminal Neuralgia is only a side effect of what the real problem is. I had an MRI and it showed a brain tumor the size of a golf ball. This tumor has been growing for the past 10-15 years and is directly on my facial, balance and hearing nerves. 90% chance I will lose my hearing in my left ear. Will have to go to rehab for balancing, walking, running etc, 25% chance my facial nerve can be damaged. As a model since 2010 this news isn’t easily swallowed.

I’ve started a gofundme account to assist me with this unexpected situation. In addition to surgery, I will have to go to rehab for balance, walking, running etc., effectively putting me out of work for the foreseeable future. The funds raised will be used to supplement insurance for medical expenses and living expenses including rent, bills, groceries, and transportation expenses while I recover.

Thank you all for your consideration and appreciate your support. Please be safe!

Somalia Knight