Urgent! Please Help My Big Sister!
My 33 year old sister is about to undergo neurosurgery for a brain tumour on her pituitary gland, which is causing multiple complications with her health & life. She has been advised to get her eggs frozen before she has surgery on January 4th. This is very costly, because it is for “Fertility Preservation”. It is a lot for the IVF & Embryo Storage. Bulk billing clinics have told them that they can’t help them because they are wanting to preserve their fertility, to get pregnant at a later date, instead of doing the full IVF cycle to get pregnant immediately. Problem is, they have to start the cycle immediately, because surgery is January 4th, and the clinic also closes over Christmas. The IVF clinic have told them that it needs to be done either this week or at the start of next week, in order to make this happen. They are continuing to contact IVF clinics across QLD, to see if there are any other options available to them. We would also love to help them with their financial burdens, and other expenses like hospital parking & other medical & natural health costs, to give her the best chance possible for a full & complete recovery.
A bit about her story:
Cornelia has been married to the love of her life for 11 years, and they have 2 beautiful miracle boys who they love & cherish dearly. They have been trying, unsuccessfully, over the past 4 years to get pregnant with their much desired 3rd baby, to complete their family. It has always been their dream to have 3 children.
Last year, Cornelia had to have emergency surgery from a 7cm cyst that had attached to her ovary which resulted in a double ovarian torsion . During surgery, she lost part of her ovary, but the surgeons managed to save most of it. This then led the gynaecologists to investigate further, to find out why Cornelia has not been able to successfully conceive another baby. A lot of tests were done, and earlier this year they discovered high prolactin levels. This suggested a benign pituitary tumour . MRI showed there was a tumour there. Further investigations showed that the tumour has caused growth hormone, resulting in a disease called Acromegaly . This is a very painful & rare disease, which causes bone, tissue & organs to grow in abnormal ways. The high prolactin is the main reason why Cornelia has not been able to have another baby, yet.
In August, Cornelia collapsed, quit breathing, with no apparent vitals (heart beat) found. She was rushed by ambulance to hospital. A recent EEG showed she has multiple daily seizures (they aren’t obvious), resulting from either epilepsy or an obstruction in the brain. They are putting her on epilepsy medication, just in case. And we are hopeful that surgery will help. She is no longer allowed to drive until she has had no seizure activity for at least 6 months and has had medical clearance from her neuro team.
This family’s life has been completely been turned upside down because of all these symptoms and changes. Ash (her husband) has even had to take on full time care & resign from his previous employment to help take care of her. Which has meant they no longer have any savings, and has made it impossible to come up with the money needed for IVF themselves.
We are hopeful that surgery will help. They are saying there is a higher risk than normal of stroke because the tumour is around her main blood supply to her brain. They are not sure they’ll be able to save her pituitary gland . This is known as the master gland, which controls ALL her body’s hormones! This would then make her completely infertile. There is also a high risk of Cornelia going blind, if left untreated. Cornelia suffers with debilitating pain, numbness, weakness, migraines, vomiting, bowel issues, and finds it hard to complete normal daily chores & activities that most people take for granted. After surgery, she’ll most probably need radiation , which also affects her fertility. But we are hopeful that she’ll recover from surgery well. She is hopeful that 2017 will bring healing, beginning with surgery, and focusing on recovery. After surgery, they’ll find out if it is cancerous, which would then result in chemo, thus affecting her ability to conceive after all this is over, as well. So many things are against her right now, but we are hoping and praying that this will be her rainbow after the storm.
In closing: Cornelia is always blessing and helping her friends, family and the community in the best way she possibly can. She is always the first person to offer a helping hand, even when she may be struggling she’ll find a way. We are hoping to bless her this Christmas and possibly inspire hope for the coming year.
Although life is very difficult for them financially & health wise, right now, they still can count their many blessings. Bills are always difficult, but can be solved eventually. However, this might be their one chance at completing their family dream of having another baby. This means so much to all 4 of them. 
{Photo taken by their little boy, on set for a wedding photoshoot to help a friends business (Claire Elise Photography), after their 10 year wedding anniversary. Still so in love.}
{Cornelia & her family in 2010, before all these massive medical changes to her body.}
We would be so thankful for any sized donation, even if it’s just $1. And if you can’t donate, please share with your friends, family & social media platforms, in the hopes that others can help. Either way, this family needs your prayers! We would be so grateful for every single prayer. Your kindness might be what it takes to make this miracle happen!!!