Rachel Haller-Pelfrey

Her name is Rachel. She is 34 years old, a mother and military spouse of 12 years. After years of debilitating migraines, consulting multiple neurologists, trying many medications, nothing worked. For the past 5 years she has been in bed more then out. In September 2021, a large tumor was found, after years of head and neck MRIs. She has struggled with daily migraines/ extreme pressure for the last 4-5 years. Head and neck pain, numbness in her hands, anxiety, heart palpitations, shakiness, decreased control of body temperature, clammy skin, and high blood pressure. She also had tinnitus for a while then complete loss of hearing in the left ear. After all of that, she began to have increased dizziness, balance and memory problems, and difficulty swallowing. In January 2022, we started the process for surgery. 1st step was an angiogram. Stents were placed in the carotid artery to reenforce the carotid as the tumor was wrapped around and misshaping it. At the same time they embolized what could safely be done of the blood supply. The tumor DID NOT like this. It started sending out signals for more blood supply and chemicals from the tissue dying. This caused her facial nerve to be irritated and caused her face to droop and would then spasm. There was great concern of a stoke, which landed her in the ER for more testing. She continues to experience facial spasms and drooping from the tumor aggravating the facial nerve. March 1st was the main surgery, a 16 hour long surgery. They removed what they could to help preserve the important nerves and carotid artery. They had to remove the jugular vein because of the destruction. The tumor also destroyed the middle/ inner ear, leaving her deaf in the left ear. It also ate through a large portion of the mastoid bone, behind the ear, so they removed part of that as well. The left side of her vocal cords are paralyzed. She then underwent another surgery to help close the vocal cords to help her eat and speak better. While she can eat better (still avoiding many foods because she chokes), her voice is still just above a whisper. Her surgeons have said her voice may never come back. To receive care from doctors that specialize in her type of tumor, They have to travel 150+ miles from their home, one way. They are almost through 6 weeks of radiation, and have spent the last 6 weeks in hotels. They have already went through all of their savings and maxed out credit cards, from either driving back and forth multiple times a week, or hotel stays. They have hesitated to ask for help financially, but without help, will not be able to afford the cost that is adding up over the last month and a half with radiation and the follow up costs for continued care. There is lifelong scans and monitoring by specialists, because this type of tumor can come back and invade the same area or start in different areas. There is a high probability of more surgeries in the future. This tumor has taken so much, and it is not done yet. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.