Sally is a mother, a daughter, a sister, a friend, an athlete, and a lifetime resident and active member of the Glen Ellyn community. She has brought smiles to countless people through her endeavors over the years, and now it’s her turn to smile.
Sally (pictured on right side of photo to the left - that's me on the left) is a survivor of a 25 year battle with recurrent brain and spinal tumors that began when she was 15 years old. She was a sophomore at Glenbard West High School when she was diagnosed with Neurofibromatosis 2 (NF2). NF2 is a complex genetic condition that causes non-cancerous tumors to grow along the central nervous system, on the brain and on the spinal cord. As of today, there is no cure. Sally is working to change that, and she needs your help.
NF2 manifests itself differently with each person, and everyone who suffers with it experiences numerous physical hardships. Her disease has forced her to live with many symptoms, including:
- Complete hearing loss
- Double vision
- Imbalance
- Bilateral facial paralysis
- Lower back pain
- Headaches
- Ringing in the ears
- Short-term memory issues
- Permanent nerve damage on her lower left leg
New Beginnings
Since July 2009, Sally has had three successful surgeries at Northwestern Memorial Hospital—one to remove a large part of her brain tumor, one to help her eyelids close, and a facial reanimation surgery to help get her smile back. The last two surgeries were necessary due to her facial paralysis. Thanks in part to her skilled surgeons and in part to her positive attitude, great faith and support from her family, friends and fellow church members at First Presbyterian Church of Glen Ellyn, Sally’s symptoms have improved, and she can once again express her joy through her smile.
Yet despite these successes, she knows that her symptoms will linger on. Her disease will continue to worsen, and, unless someone finds a cure, the battle with NF2 will continue for the rest of her life. Sally has lost many friends to NF2, and she is dedicated to helping improve the lives of others who share her disease. Finding a cure has become a focus of her life. Sally wants to educate people about NF2 and its devastating effects. She believes that the more people know about the disease, the more they will want to help.
Recently, she has been working with a number of NF organizations, including the NF Endurance Team, which raises money exclusively for the Children’s Tumor Foundation.
This August, the team will participate in the Chicago Rock’n’Roll Half Marathon, and Sally plans to walk the entire race. Through her participation in the race, she hopes to raise at least $5000 for the NF Endurance Team and she needs your help.
How You Can Help
Please visit Sally’s fundraising website to learn more about Sally, NF2, and her courageous battle to find a cure. And please consider making a donation and asking your friends to visit the site. Your donation may make the difference in others finding their lost smiles.
Sally thanks you, her fellow NF2 sufferers thank you, and I, along with all of her friends and family, thank you. You can make a difference, and I know you will in any way you can - whether it's by making a donation, spreading the word, sending positive thoughts or saying a prayer. Have a great day!
Helen
P.S. The house where the photo was taken is the former Tosch home in Glen Ellyn. You were very good to us, house. Thank you. We love you, we'll never forget you, and we'll miss you. A lot.
