Please help us through my mom’s next big surgery

Samantha Guerin is organizing this fundraiser.

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Hello,

My name is Sam, and I’m writing to ask for help for my mom, Deborah Guerin. She was born with a genetic disorder called Neurofibromatosis, a condition that causes tumors to form in the brain, spinal cord, and nerves. This disease can also cause bone deformities, heart defects, chronic pain, and many other issues.

My mom has survived two strokes, hundreds of seizures, brain tumors, and the removal of over 150 tumors – literally from her head to her toes – over the years. Constant pain, absolutely excruciating and often debilitating headaches, and a severely curved and damaged neck and spine are just some of the difficulties my mom lives with. Even with all of the pain that she endures, she is most upset about the brain damage. My mom was a genius, with an incredible memory, but for a while she couldn’t even remember my name. Great doctors, surgeons, and both neurological and neuropsychological therapists have helped her so much. She has more specialists than I can keep track of, most of them 3 hours away in San Francisco; so in addition to doctor and hospital bills, just the travel itself is expensive and exhausting.

As I write this, my mom is preparing for her next surgery: a multi-level anterior cervical discectomy and fusion due to severe damage in several neck vertebrae, which is compressing her spinal cord and nerves. This surgery should relieve some pain and restore some function, and maybe fix some of her swallowing issues; most importantly, we’re hoping it will alleviate pressure on the nerve that affects her diaphragm and causes problems with her breathing.

Recovery from this procedure is estimated at a year. She’s excited because that might give her time to heal enough to really enjoy another, almost annual, combination “Deborah’s Birthday/Tom Brady’s in the Superbowl!!” party in February 2024! It would be great to see her jumping and screaming like a maniac again, rooting and willing with all she’s got for Tom to win another ring. I’m pretty sure she’s his biggest fan EVER lol.

Mom used to work full-time as a voice talent. You could hear her in commercials and phone systems for companies such as Audi, Astra Zeneca, Hilton Hotels, National Vision, and many other well-known companies. She can no longer work that much, though she does take on projects for a few clients when she is able. That left my dad to be the main source of income for years. Unfortunately, he’s been dealing with serious health problems himself lately; heart failure and 3 hospitalizations in the past year have also added to their medical bills. And of course, my mom’s next surgery is expensive, necessitating specialized surgeons, hospital bills, MRI’s, lab work, and months of physical therapy. My little brother and I will be her main caretakers over the next several months so my manager has kindly agreed to cut back my hours for a while, and I have already reduced my college courses.

My mom doesn’t like asking for help; all her life she has been the one helping others. Not many people can comprehend the pain and difficulties she experiences daily, just trying to accomplish basic tasks that many of us take for granted but can leave her bedridden. So, I WILL ask for help, for her. Anything you can give to lessen the stress of even one small bill would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you for taking time out of your day to read about us. Have a wonderful day, and I hope this new year treats you well.

-Sam

My family before my mom got really sick.