Kendra’s brain tumor fight

Update: I have just finished my 28 day rounds of radiation. I am so happy to be done with this process of my overall treatment plan for my brain tumor. Unfortunately, my vision has not improved, but it at least has not worsened. I will have a follow up for imaging in 6 weeks to see if the radiation has hopefully shrunk or killed the tumor.

Now that things are over, the bills have come rolling in and I have already hit my $4,000 out of pocket responsibility.

Below you can read my full story about my journey.

Thank you so much for your help and support.

Hi,

my name is Kendra Hoffman. I am a 36 year old single mom to a fantastic 19 year old son Hayden who is in his first year of college at LaCrosse. I have been working for RUSD for 13 years as a 4th grade teacher. I have been trying to continue my education by pursuing a masters in Reading instruction and Literacy. My son and I love to travel and experience different cultures. However, our travels and my education have to be put on hold due to mounting medical debt and procedures.

In May of 2019, I had my first massive panic attack due to a student threatening my life and being allowed to return to school the next day. During the panic attack, something moved and shifted behind my right eye, making it look bulged. After an MRI, we discovered that I had 2 Meningiomas which are tumors in the lining of my brain. One small one behind my left ear and a massive one behind my right eye that was pushing my eye out and eating through my skull. The only silver lining is that they are not cancerous.

The plan was to operate on the right tumor after a trip I had with my son. When we returned and I was ready to return to work from summer vacation, the left tumor burst and was bleeding into my brain. I had to be flight-for-life to my surgical team to undergo emergency brain surgery. I spent a week in the hospital and had to have people help hold me up to walk, shower, and use the restroom. This was physically, mentally, emotionally, and financially draining.

Covid hit causing more mental strain and in less than a year from my emergency surgery, I was back in the operating room for a 14 hour brain surgery to remove the tumor and reconstruct my skull. Spending another lonely week in the hospital.

Two years later in 2022 we had to go back in to remove more tumor that was left behind and growing. Unfortunately, this was not the last brain surgery. In November of 2023, I had to go in for urgent brain surgery due to sudden vision loss in my right eye. A piece of tumor that had to be left behind is on my optic nerve and is continuing to grow. The growth is putting pressure on my nerve causing me to potentially go blind in my right eye. Due to the fact that the tumor attached to my nerve makes pull removal via surgery impossible. The November surgery only removed bone and tissue growth to make room for radiation.

After the new year I will have to go in for extensive radiation that can last over 30 days. Due to the prolonged exposure to radiation, fatigue, hair loss, mental cloudiness, and other side effects are likely. This will cause me to loss many days of work and I am very limited on sick time.

Due to all the medical procedures, stress, medical bills and possible sick days without pay in the future, I have had to drop out of my masters program.

Your donation will go to helping me pay my surmounting medical bills and help me to alleviate some stress. Your generosity will help me get back on my feet and continue my education and a hopefully happy and healthy life.

if you would like to donate directly to my Venmo which does not take a percentage, my user name is @Kendra-Hoffman-87

I cannot thank you enough for your gracious gift.

Kendra