Introduction
This January (2004), while I was at the Issels Clinic of The Oasis of Hope Hospital in Tijuana, Mexico, I had the great fortune to meet one of the most courageous people I have ever known, Tamra. She has been suffering from Neurofribromatosis Type 2 (NF2) since she was a very young girl. The disease, and the surgeries to fight it, have left her partially disabled.
Neurofibromatosis Type 2 (NF2). NF2 is a disease known for inflicting a person’s central nervous system with tumors. The tumors attach themselves to the nerve, gradually crushing it. Check out Tamra's own web story
As far as I know, there are no conventional treatments for her disease. Life consists of one trial after another as tumors grow and have to be removed. Brain tumors, arms, legs, you name it. I can't begin to imagine the horror she must have been going through on a daily basis.
Still, she is obviously a fighter. She puts her trust in God and she is not disappointed. From very early on in the Issels treatments, she seemed to be experiencing some improvements. She was glowing (whether she knew it or not) and was a real inspiration for the other patients.
In her own words...
God Has Seen Me Through
(photo: Tamra and her brother)
It’s
hard to sum up the long and hard fight I’ve fought through the years,
having been diagnosed with Neurofribromatosis Type 2 (NF2). NF2 is a disease
known for inflicting a person’s central nervous system with tumors.
The tumors attach themselves to the nerve, gradually crushing it.
I was diagnosed with this inflicting disease when I was 9 years old. I’m now 21 and tumors have invaded my body for 12 years, resulting in 8 major surgeries in the last 8 years in which I have lost total hearing, sight in one eye, facial movement, and impaired balance. I go through extensive rehabilitation after each surgery to get back some of what was lost. Despite the trauma my body has been through, God has proven Himself faithful time and time again and I’ve always been able to trust His hands even when I don’t fully understand His plans.
I didn’t start having major problems until I became a teenager and the acoustic neuroma tumors started growing. My first surgery was performed when I was 12 years old at Johns Hopkins Hospital by Dr. Ben Carson(author of Gifted Hands). My family and I flew there and I had a tumor removed off my spine. Two months later I went back and another tumor was removed off my right eye. I had almost lost total sight and my doctor was hoping to regain some back upon tumor removal, but the tumor had already crushed my optic nerve causing total blindness in my right eye. Two weeks after surgery I started my 7th grade year. I was able to work my way through Jr. High and the first part of High school with no other problems, defying the learning disability that some NF2 patients are inflicted with.
God has given me a very bright mind, having no mental problems to deal with and always making straight A’s. I began my junior year in high school but only two weeks after starting, I started having excruciating headaches that caused me to have all kinds of emotions. I couldn’t go to school because I was always tired and constantly felt bad. It was becoming harder and harder to walk and my balance was awful. It was discovered through and MRI that there was a tumor on my brainstem the size of a lime. Immediate surgery was needed to remove this life-threatening tumor.
On October 1, 1997, a twelve-hour extensive surgery began to remove the tumor that was entwined with nerves. Much prayer was needed. The teachers in my school and my youth group started fasting days before the surgery. The Lord moved in such a way in my school, classes were being altered and many giving their hearts to Jesus. There was also prayer in the surgery room because my doctor received approval for Jeff Fenholt to pray IN the surgery room. Jeff Fenholt was the leader of Black Sabbath and Jesus Christ Superstar, and his life was dramatically changed upon accepting Jesus into his life in 1979. His taking 12 hours out of his busy schedule for a teenager he never knew makes him hold a special place in my heart and a deep friendship.
The surgery was very successful, removing the entire tumor except the part hooked to my facial nerve. I spent 36 days in the hospital and had to learn how to completely walk again. I also lost movement on the left side of my face. My mom stayed with me during the days and nights. My dad and brother would spend the weekends and days off with me. Whenever my spirits were low, my mom would turn on praise and worship music and it would always help. The psychologist would always ask why I was in such a good mood and not depressed (like everyone she saw was) and I would tell her that I just turn on praise and worship music to uplift me.
The overwhelming amount of visitors was much needed and really helped during my lengthy hospital stay. Rehabilitation was very long and hard but I’m more then a conqueror through Jesus who gives me strength. I was able to graduate high school on time with high honors and started college.
I’ve completed 35 hours of college classes but in December of 1999 I went to Los Angeles, CA for a tumor removal and the placement of a life-changing new technology, the Auditory Brainstem Implant (ABI). The ABI is much like the cochlear implant except that the ABI attaches to the brainstem since NF2 takes the cochlea nerve. It sends signals straight to the brain, producing a response that can be interpreted into words. I had tests done that showed the ABI was working but since I still had hearing, I didn’t see the full effect. In April 2001 I was told that I would lose total hearing due to a large tumor on my only-hearing ear. Upon hearing the news that I would become deaf I was distraught because people haven’t been educated properly about the deaf culture.
I researched deafness and sign language the whole year and was encouraged but wanted to put off surgery until after my brother’s senior football season in which he was the star linebacker. In December 2001 I had put it off long enough and was battling the affects of the tumor that caused my balance to deteriorate and my voice to become soft. So a week before Christmas I had the tumor removed in Los Angeles.
I had to have a feeding tube for 2 months because of the tumor pressing on my throat, auditory nerve, brainstem, and facial nerve. I lost total hearing but on Christmas Day while lying in a hospital bed, I put on my miraculous ABI and I could hear. It was my Christmas miracle. It’s not normal hearing but I’m hearing through the help of lip-reading, and it has continually gotten better through the year. I am so thankful for my ABI and the ability to hear again. I also lost the movement of the other side of my face because of the damaging tumor. My doctors said it would return in time and it did nine months later but that was very hard to deal with because I love to smile and am such a happy person that I want to express God’s love.
Having been in California for Christmas was not easy but my family and I made the best of the bad situation. We were overjoyed to be able to be home this year to celebrate Jesus’ birth with our friends and family, something so many of us often takes for granted in life. Just being in California away from my friends was also hard. My loving pastor and his wife flew out for both of my surgeries. Going into surgery is always hard for me to think of my family having to sit there and wait. Them being there to lift up my family and me when we had no one else encouraged and blessed us deeply, and they’ll always hold a special place in our hearts.
In May of 2002 I was told the large tumor behind my knee needed to be removed since it was cutting off the circulation in my foot. After removed I was able to walk into my brother’s graduation the next week, something that astonished friends and family. A few months later I started having pain in my shoulder but just thought it was from working so hard in rehab. In Nov. 2002 a tumor was discovered on my upper spine and was removed thereafter. I’m recovering very well right now from that. I was very thankful to have both of these surgeries done close to home by my very experienced and loving doctor. God has always blessed and guided me to the best doctors and therapists, so I’ve always been well taken care of. My family is very close which has been such an asset. We’re very strong and lift each other up, totally putting our trust in God to guide us through the obstacles we face.
Through my battle with NF2 God has given me such a will to live and the strength to press on to the finish line in my life’s race. I have a goal to return to college and obtain an American Sign Language degree. I can’t get through any of these trials without the overwhelming support and encouragement of friends and family and God’s arms around me, carrying me every step of the way. Life is so very precious. We never know when today is our last, so cherish and never take for granted friends and family, while constantly walking in His light. He will carry you and He will make a way where there seems to be no way in a situation that seems impossible. Despite the fact that I still have multiple tumors that could grow, I know that my God is greater then any situation and is continuing His work in me. My miracle is on its way because God is Always Faithful!
Continually in His arms,
Tamra, Written: March 2003
Issels Treatment at the Oasis of Hope Hospital (January 2004)
I'm so excited about my progress and want to get the word out. I meet NF2
patients all the time when I go to LA for my hearing implant programming and
I can't wait to be able to share with them this new treatment that is and
will get rid of the NF2 in my body.
Before I came to Oasis, I was facing another surgery because a tumor on my wrist was causing my hands to do almost nothing. Now almost all the function in my hands is back! It's so AMAZING and i'm constantly looking at the tumor on my wrist shrink.
When I do stuff with my hands that I couldn't do before, I just stand in awe. My balance and walking had gotten worse through the years because of the damaging tumors and many surgeries. My balance/walking are getting better-it's just a slow-go because of all the damage but i'm noticing change!!!!!
The first month I was home after Oasis, I was totally exhausted from the dendritic vaccine but Gar said to take a week off because they didn't want me worn out all the time. Last week was my first week off and I felt so good and was able to do more . I felt better this week after the vaccine too, due to a week of rest and no vaccine. Exhaustion is my only one [side effect] -I got a fever a couple times.
I'm doing so good and feeling better daily. Hope your good!
Talk to ya later.........
God bless, Tamra
Tamra’s Progress with the Issels Treatments
·January 14, 2004-started program
·January 17-I was able to pinch my nametag clip.
I haven’t been able to
pinch with my right hand in 6 months.(after 1st vaccine)
·January 19-I was able to pinch my hair clippy.
·January 20-The pinky on my left hand hadn’t
been able to fully point, it
would just curve. Today my pinky moved straight and pointed.
My left hand also has been able to stretch out with all the
fingers together for months and today it was able to.
The tumor on my right wrist was very large and I have noticed
it shrinking slightly
·January 22-I’m able to carry my meal tray
around the cafeteria with both
hands. I haven’t been able to carry anything with both hands
while walking in months and was unable to do so the first few
days at Oasis. My walking and balance is straighter and steadier
each day.
·January 24-The soft tumor on my right wrist and
knotty on left elbow are
shrinking. I turned the key in the very hard lock.
·January 26-I was able to type with both hands. I
haven’t been able to do
that in 6 months.
·January 30-I was able to open/close a safety pin
and open/close a ziplock
bag. Both little but huge things since I haven’t been able to in 4
months.
·February 1-My balance and footing is better and
straighter with steps and
walking. I was able to turn the key in my car ignition and it’s
been very difficult to do for 6 months.
·February 5-The tumor on my right wrist has shrunk
a couple inches.
(at this time I’ve had 6 dendritic vaccines)
·February 7-I can pinch the therapeutic clay with
my left hand and haven’t
been able to do that in 6 months.
·February 11-I can pull Velcro apart using the fingers
of both hands, which I
haven’t been able to do in 6 months.
·February 14-I am able to step up 1 step straighter and steadier.
·February 17-I performed an exercise where i was
balancing while sitting on
my knees and i haven’t been able to do that in 4 years. I’m
doing exercises I haven’t been able to do in years because of
so many surgeries that nerve damage has been involved and
interferences with existing tumors.
(at this time I’ve had 8 dendritic vaccine)
·February 19-first issels vaccine
·February 25-The soft tumor on my right wrist has
shrunk another half inch ,
so in all it’s shrunk 2 and a half inches in length and is also
smaller in width. The coloring in my face is brighter and t he
whites in my eyes whiter.
·March 2-My balance is steadier and I’m walking
straighter. I can stand still
for a couple minutes without knees shaking as much and I haven’t
been able to do that in 5 years without leaning on something. My
feet are also closer together when walking.
(at this time I’ve had my 10th dendritic vaccine and 3rd issels
vaccine.)
·March 7-I can bend my knees and squat down and touch
the floor then
stand back up which I haven’t been able to do in 4 years. While at
the store I can squat and look at things on the bottom shelf. I’m
just noticing steadier steps. I’m able to get up from the floor
without the help of something or someone and my body is just
overall working very well.
·March 10-I bounced a ball with my left hand while
walking. I haven’t been
able to do that in years
