Please Help This Sweet Mama Fight Eye Cancer!

Dear Friends, Family, and Compassionate Individuals,

This is Crystal Burrell of Murphy, NC. She was my amazing AirBnB property manager for my cabin before she had to cease working due to vision problems. Her children, Haley and Hayden, have asked me to help them with this page. Here's their story . . .

We are reaching out to you with heavy hearts and a plea for support for our sweet Mama who is facing a challenging battle against eye cancer. She has always been a pillar of strength and resilience, but recent developments have taken a toll on her vision and overall well-being. We are seeking your help to provide her with the best possible medical care and treatment options to ensure her future and preserve her sight.

Background: Just last Friday, our mom went for a long-awaited eye doctor's appointment due to a significant loss of vision she had been experiencing. But God opened doors for her as there was a cancellation. The local eye doctor immediately noticed that her retina was pushed up and suspected a detached retina. Urgently, we rushed to Asheville, hoping for emergency surgery to address the issue. However, after extensive tests and consultations with a retinal specialist, we received a shocking diagnosis. The retina was not detached, but being pushed up by fluid caused by a melanoma tumor measuring approximately 8mm x 14mm.

Our Mama's situation is particularly challenging because she already battles a disorder called "pseudotumor cerebri." This condition causes her brain to mimic the presence of a tumor, leading to an accumulation of cerebral fluid in her skull. As a result, she experiences daily symptoms like swollen optic nerves, migraines, blind spots, fatigue, and more. These symptoms, which she has learned to endure, made it difficult for her to discern the development of a tumor until she started losing her vision.

The Road Ahead: On the 21st, our mom has an appointment with a cancer specialist in Greenville, South Carolina, who will determine the next steps in her treatment journey. The retinal specialist indicated that swift action is necessary, expressing hope that the tumor's size might make her a suitable candidate for plaque radiotherapy. This procedure involves attaching a plaque, similar in size to a bottle cap, to her eye with stitches. The plaque emits high-dose radiation to target the affected area over a four-day hospital stay. If the tumor is not too large, this approach holds the potential for preserving some vision, depending on the extent of damage to the optic nerve caused by the radiation. Alternatively, complete removal of the eye may be the only option if the tumor is too large or if the specialist recommends it based on success rates and overall prognosis.

Why We Need Your Support: We stand in awe of our Mama's unwavering strength and determination and know that God is watching over her. Despite living with pseudotumor cerebri and enduring its debilitating symptoms on a daily basis, she works tirelessly to provide for our family and offer us the best opportunities in life. As her children, we have witnessed her resilience firsthand and have been inspired by her unwavering commitment to our well-being. Even on days when we call her after work, she is still hard at work herself, always putting others before herself.

However, due to the seriousness of her condition, our Mama will be unable to work, not only resulting in a loss of income but also leaving her heartbroken at the thought of being unable to support and help those she cares for deeply. While health insurance covers some aspects of her treatment, there are still numerous expenses and unforeseen costs associated with cancer treatments, ongoing medical care, and potential travel for specialized consultations.

How You Can Make a Difference: We genuinely believe in the power of community and the collective ability to bring about positive change. Your support and contributions will go directly towards covering medical expenses, treatment costs, specialized consultations, and other related expenses our Mama will encounter throughout her journey. Your generosity will provide her with the financial stability she needs during this difficult time, allowing her to focus on her health and recovery without additional burdens. She put Haley through college and is still supporting Hayden who will be in his junior year at Berry College.

Please join us in standing by our incredible Mama, whose strength and love have shaped our lives. Your donations, thoughts, and prayers mean the world to us and will be the beacon of hope that lights her path to healing. Even $5 helps.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your kindness, compassion, and generosity.

With heartfelt gratitude,

Haley & Hayden