by Carrie
For weeks that little voice inside me told me something was wrong! I finally got an MRI on May 20, 2011. There was a tumor the size of a ping pong ball on my brain stem. It was called an Acoustic Neuroma, thankfully benign. My surgery was August 19, 2011. My surgery was successful but I lost most of my hearing on my left side (tumor side) and some facial numbness as well as dry eye. My left eye lid doesn't close all the way. 8 months later I am still seeing progress and hopeful one day I will look 'normal' again. It has been an emotional roller coaster. I am 35 with 2 small children and a great husband. It all flashed before my eyes and I appreciate them more then ever now. I am thankful I am here and my success story is probably a rare one. I have already ran 2 1/2 marathons since my surgery 8 months ago. I have always been a runner and that really got me through this time in my life. I would like to bring awareness to my type of tumor and gain awareness on other tumors. I hope my story can help someone to have strength, hope and faith!
