Terri is an amazing single mother of 3 children. She was recently diagnosed with pseudotumor cerebri. This condition causes high pressure within the skull due to the buildup or poor absorption of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). She has been placed out of work indefinitely, facing serious financial hardship. My name is Jamie and I met my friend Terri at dance class when I was 8 and she was 6. We spent so much time together at dance, at each other's houses, and wherever else we could find some fun! One thing I admire most about Terri is she has always navigated through the difficult times life has thrown at her. Starting with her mother's death at age 15. She had to endure the most important years of a girl's life without her mother. She decided after many years to move to Arizona for a new start. Something beautiful happened then, she discovered she was going to a mom. Instead of being able to enjoy the wonders of pregnancy, she was diagnosed with placenta previa. She immediately began to worry if she and her baby were going to survive the pregnancy. In her final trimester, she was placed on bed rest. Baby Zoe decided to make her appearance on May 23 which was the same date Terri lost her mother all those years ago. So, after an emergency c-section, Terri had a beautiful baby girl and a permanent reminder that her mother is always with her. Zoe has 2 half sisters and Terri has made sure that they grow up spending as much time together as possible. Zoe was diagnosed with an immune disorder and had to get infusion treatments for months. Terri then gave birth to another beautiful baby girl, Georgia, during COVID. After a routine ophthalmologist appointment a few months ago, it was discovered her optic nerves were being compressed. Her life has now changed again forever. She assumed her headaches and visual changes were just stressors of being a mother. She was not prepared for the explanation she was about to receive. The ophthalmologist said there was no doubt she had a brain tumor it was a question of how bug. He instructed her to see certain specialists right away for further evaluation. While awaiting the referrals needed, she was hospitalized due to increasing symptoms of headaches and visual disturbances. The doctors proceeded with a CT, MRI, and spinal tap. After the results, Terri was diagnosed with pseudotumor cerebri. This condition causes high pressure within the skull due to the buildup or poor absorption of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). She was discharged with medication to try and slow the production of her CSF. While waiting for her specialist appointments and insurance referrals to process, she continued to work. Then the second hospitalization occurred. The doctors proceeded with another spinal tap to drain the excess fluid and placed a blood patch in hopes of a longer fix. Terri was then placed out of work indefinitely. I decided to go out for a visit during which time her third hospitalization occurred. Before I left, they drilled a hole into her skull and placed a pressure monitor. After keeping an eye on her pressure they moved forward with yet another spinal tap and blood patch. She will be starting speech therapy along with other home care services she may need following discharge. She opened up about some serious financial concerns she is now facing with being out of work, and that should be the least of her worries. I am asking anyone who has met Terri at one point or another and knows her story please help her get through these next few months until she can get back on her feet. Please share her story, even if you don't know her, maybe you can relate to trying to keep things together while facing a medical emergency. Thank you all for taking the time to read this.
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