Lori McKenzie Battles Brain Tumor

Many of you may know that Lori was recently diagnosed with a brain tumor, and it has turned her life upside down.  It is a rare tumor called a vestibular schwannamo, which is a non-cancerous tumor on the main nerve leading from the inner ear to the brain.  Her symptoms started in June with what she thought was simple vertigo that came and went.  By September, not only had the vertigo gotten worse, but she had developed a weakness/paralysis on the right side of her face, horrible headaches, ear pain and other related issues.   She was given instructions to stop working and rest while her doctors tried to get to the bottom of things.  There have been a multitude of tests and diagnoses ruled out, but the last MRI showed a mass/tumor.

Lori's family: husband, Chad, daughter, Claudia, and mother, Sandy are her main support.   She is no longer able to work or drive, and is not sure if that will ever change.  Doctors have told her that her life will be dramatically different in the future.

She plans to meet with her surgical team in early November to establish a treatment plan at Duke Medical Center.  Chad has insurance coverage through his employer, but being this is specialized care at Duke, it is considered "out of network".  As you can guess, it's going to create a burden in many ways.  

Lori  has a positive outlook and strong faith.   She is not the sort to ask for help, but there are so many of us who want to help anyway.   I am asking her friends, former colleagues and supporters to donate what you can to her cause.    If you cannot donate, please share with others, and keep her in your prayers.

Susan Zongker, friend and colleague at Wilkinson ERA Real Estate