Laura Waack 2nd Brain Tumor

Two and a half years ago, Laura Pottratz Waack, a life-long Pierre resident, was diagnosed with a brain tumor (vestibular schwannoma) and subsequently had it removed. Due to the surgery Laura lost the hearing in her right ear, but was assured that while bits of the tumor remained, she would recover to near-normal status. After a month-long recovery Laura returned to work and an active life. For two years she traveled to the University of Minnesota hospital for check-ups and received positive reports. Unfortunately, this year the news was not so good. She began experiencing a return of the symptoms she had before the first brain tumor. After her most recent check-up it was determined that the tumor has not only returned, it is now very aggressive, larger than the first one, and resting on her right optic nerve. She’s been warned there’s a good chance she’ll lose that eye during the tumor removal.

Along with the astronomical medical expenses, there is the cost of gas and lodging. Laura and her husband Gary have religiously paid on the bills for the last surgery, and would have paid them off in 2023. Now they are faced with another surgery that they have been told will be longer, more difficult, and require a lengthier recovery.