Support Melissa and Chad Potter
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Please help support Melissa and Chad Potter and their boys Riley and Henley! Melissa is a loving mama, wife and ASL translator. She is dealing with an unexpected health crisis and her husband Chad has been on medical leave after undergoing his own health issues and surgery this year. Please make a donation of any size to help them during this difficult time; every little bit adds up! This money will be used for anything they need during the next few months, including gas to drive to Iowa City and back, groceries and meals during their trips and surgery recovery, child care for their boys, hotels in Iowa City and/or health insurance deductibles and co-pays.
On Friday September 4th Melissa had an MRI to try to determine the cause of her migraines, which have been getting progressively worse. On Wednesday September 9th Melissa was told that they found a large mass in her head that is consistent with pituitary macro adenoma. The tumor is most likely benign and curable but requires referral to a neurosurgeon.
Melissa is being treated by University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. She is seeing an ophthalmologist because the tumor is pushing on both her optical nerves. The tumor is so large that is is bowing her nerves, causing headaches and creating blinds spots. (For those of you who don't know, Melissa is an American Sign Language translator and her sight is essential to conduct her very important job!). Her tumor is also large enough that it is wrapped around a main nerve and obscuring her doctors' view of her pituitary gland, so an MRI and CT scan will be necessary in planning for the surgery, so that they do not inadvertently remove her pituitary gland. The good news is that the tumor is probably very slow growing.
In Iowa City, Melissa's doctors confirmed that her tumor is producing hormones. These hormones cause many things that Melissa has been dealing with, from migraines and swelling to diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea and carpel tunnel.
On October 6th Melissa will go to Iowa City all day to have an MRI, CT scans, lab work and multiple pre-operatory appointments. On October 7th she will drive back to Iowa City for a pre-op COVID-19 test. On October 8th Melissa will have surgery in Iowa City. They hope to remove most, if not all, of her tumor. After surgery, Melissa will spend 2-3 nights recovering in the hospital. Once the tumor is removed Melissa will have a long road to recovery, including more doctor visits, medications, scans and tests.
Please make a donation of any size to help relieve Melissa and Chad of some stress during this challenging time!
On Friday September 4th Melissa had an MRI to try to determine the cause of her migraines, which have been getting progressively worse. On Wednesday September 9th Melissa was told that they found a large mass in her head that is consistent with pituitary macro adenoma. The tumor is most likely benign and curable but requires referral to a neurosurgeon.
Melissa is being treated by University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. She is seeing an ophthalmologist because the tumor is pushing on both her optical nerves. The tumor is so large that is is bowing her nerves, causing headaches and creating blinds spots. (For those of you who don't know, Melissa is an American Sign Language translator and her sight is essential to conduct her very important job!). Her tumor is also large enough that it is wrapped around a main nerve and obscuring her doctors' view of her pituitary gland, so an MRI and CT scan will be necessary in planning for the surgery, so that they do not inadvertently remove her pituitary gland. The good news is that the tumor is probably very slow growing.
In Iowa City, Melissa's doctors confirmed that her tumor is producing hormones. These hormones cause many things that Melissa has been dealing with, from migraines and swelling to diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea and carpel tunnel.
On October 6th Melissa will go to Iowa City all day to have an MRI, CT scans, lab work and multiple pre-operatory appointments. On October 7th she will drive back to Iowa City for a pre-op COVID-19 test. On October 8th Melissa will have surgery in Iowa City. They hope to remove most, if not all, of her tumor. After surgery, Melissa will spend 2-3 nights recovering in the hospital. Once the tumor is removed Melissa will have a long road to recovery, including more doctor visits, medications, scans and tests.
Please make a donation of any size to help relieve Melissa and Chad of some stress during this challenging time!
Organizer and beneficiary
Kimberly Kim
Organizer
Bettendorf, IA
Melissa Wagschal Potter
Beneficiary