Brain Surgery, Faith and Recovery
When Melinda D’Abbenigno began experiencing severe headaches, blurred vision and difficulty walking, she had no idea that a brain tumour was responsible. What initially seemed like migraines eventually led to an emergency hospital admission, a diagnosis of a posterior fossa meningioma and two operations.
In this interview with Aunty M Brain Tumours, Melinda shares her experience of being diagnosed in 2007, the complications she faced during treatment, and how her Christian faith became an important source of comfort during recovery.
Her story is not only about undergoing brain surgery. It is also about the uncertainty of living with a brain tumour, the emotional impact of a life-threatening diagnosis, and finding a different perspective on life afterwards.
For Melinda, prayer, gratitude and the support of those around her played an enormous part in getting through one of the most difficult periods of her life.
When Severe Headaches Turned Out to Be a Brain Tumour
Before her diagnosis in 2007, Melinda was experiencing symptoms that were initially thought to be migraines.
She had been suffering from increasingly severe headaches, but as time went on, other worrying symptoms began to appear.
Her walking became unsteady, her vision started to blur, and the headaches became more difficult to manage.
These changes were signs that something more serious was happening.
Eventually, Melinda’s condition deteriorated to the point where she needed urgent medical attention.
Investigations revealed that she had a meningioma situated in the posterior fossa, at the back of her head on the right-hand side.
A meningioma is a tumour that develops from the meninges, the protective membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord.
Although many meningiomas grow slowly, their location can make them particularly dangerous if they press against important structures within the brain.
For Melinda, the tumour was already causing significant problems.
A Posterior Fossa Meningioma and Hydrocephalus
The posterior fossa is a small but important area at the back of the skull. It contains structures involved in balance, coordination and essential bodily functions.
Because there is limited space in this part of the skull, a tumour can cause serious complications as it grows.
In Melinda’s case, she developed hydrocephalus, a condition in which cerebrospinal fluid builds up within the brain, causing increased pressure.
Hydrocephalus can cause headaches, visual disturbances, problems with balance, nausea and other neurological symptoms.
Melinda needed emergency surgery to address the fluid build-up and pressure.
It was a frightening situation. What had begun as symptoms believed to be migraines had become a medical emergency involving her brain.
And the first operation was only the beginning of her treatment.
Brain Surgery to Remove 80% of the Meningioma
Following the emergency treatment for hydrocephalus, Melinda underwent another operation to remove the brain tumour.
During the surgery, doctors were able to remove approximately 80% of the meningioma.
However, part of the tumour remained.
For anyone undergoing brain surgery, discovering that a tumour cannot be completely removed can be difficult to come to terms with.
Sometimes surgeons must balance removing as much tumour as possible against the risk of damaging healthy brain tissue and surrounding structures.
The remaining 20% of Melinda’s tumour meant there was still uncertainty about what would happen next.
As she recovered from the operations, she also had to deal with the physical and emotional consequences of everything she had experienced.
Complications and a Difficult Hospital Recovery
Melinda’s recovery was not straightforward.
During her time in hospital, she experienced complications, including allergic reactions to medication.
She was physically weak, struggling with sleepless nights and facing the uncertainty of what might happen next.
After two operations and the shock of receiving a brain tumour diagnosis, the experience was understandably overwhelming.
Recovery after brain surgery is not simply about healing from an operation.
There can also be a great deal to process emotionally.
For Melinda, it was during these difficult moments that her faith became particularly important.
Finding Comfort Through Faith and Prayer
One of the most personal parts of my conversation with Melinda was hearing how much her relationship with God meant to her during her illness.
While recovering in hospital, she turned to prayer for strength and reassurance.
At a time when she was feeling physically weak and uncertain about the future, Melinda described experiencing a profound sense of peace.
She believed that God was with her and that, whatever happened, she was not facing the situation alone.
Her faith did not mean that her experience was easy or that she never felt frightened.
Instead, it gave her something to hold on to when so much of her life felt beyond her control.
Throughout her hospital stay, she continued to pray, drawing comfort from her beliefs and from the prayers of others.
For Melinda, this spiritual support was just as meaningful as the practical and emotional support she received.
Everyone copes with a brain tumour diagnosis differently. Some find strength in religion, others in family, friendships, counselling or connecting with people who have been through similar experiences.
Melinda’s story demonstrates how important faith was to her personally.
What Happened to the Remaining 20% of Her Brain Tumour?
One of the most remarkable parts of Melinda’s account concerns what happened after her second operation.
Surgeons had removed approximately 80% of the meningioma, leaving some tumour behind.
However, Melinda later reported that the remaining tumour was no longer visible.
According to her account, she did not require additional surgery or radiotherapy to remove the remaining portion.
She firmly believes that prayer and her faith in God played a part in what happened.
For Melinda, this was an extraordinary experience that strengthened her religious beliefs and changed the way she viewed her life.
It is important to recognise that this is Melinda’s personal experience and interpretation of her recovery. The interview does not establish medically why the remaining tumour was no longer visible, and prayer should not be regarded as a replacement for medical treatment or follow-up.
Nevertheless, the experience had a lasting impact on her.
How Surviving a Brain Tumour Changed Melinda’s Outlook on Life
After spending approximately a month in hospital, Melinda began looking at life differently.
The diagnosis, emergency treatment and uncertainty surrounding her recovery had forced her to confront just how quickly circumstances can change.
Things that might once have seemed important no longer carried the same weight.
Instead, she developed an even greater appreciation for everyday life.
She spoke about gratitude, forgiveness, treating people with kindness and recognising that each day is a gift.
For Melinda, surviving her brain tumour experience was not simply about returning to her previous routine.
It was also about deciding how she wanted to live moving forward.
She believed the experience had made her stronger and given her opportunities to encourage other people facing difficult circumstances.
Choosing to Become Better Rather Than Bitter
Something that stood out during my interview with Melinda was her determination not to allow her experience to leave her feeling bitter about life.
Brain tumour diagnoses can bring many emotions.
Fear, frustration, sadness, anger and uncertainty can all be part of the experience.
There is no right or wrong way to feel, and nobody should be expected to remain positive all the time.
For Melinda, however, choosing gratitude and forgiveness became central to the way she approached life after her illness.
She encouraged others to be kinder, more understanding and less quick to judge people.
She also spoke about giving more than we receive, forgiving easily and appreciating the time we have.
These were not simply ideas she had read about. They were lessons she felt she had learned through her own experience of serious illness.
Melinda’s Advice to Others Facing a Brain Tumour Diagnosis
During our conversation, Melinda shared several lessons she wanted others to take away from her experience.
- Treat others as you would like to be treated. Kindness and compassion can make an enormous difference, especially when somebody is going through a difficult time.
- Give more than you receive. Supporting others can bring a sense of purpose and happiness.
- Be slow to judge and quick to love. We rarely know everything somebody else is facing.
- Practise gratitude. Try to recognise the things that still bring happiness, even when life is difficult.
- Choose how you respond to adversity. Melinda wanted to become better rather than bitter because of her experiences.
- Forgive easily. Holding on to resentment can become an additional burden.
- Appreciate each day. Life can change unexpectedly, and ordinary moments can become particularly precious.
Her advice reflects her personal beliefs and the lessons she took from surviving her brain tumour experience.
Not everybody will share her religious faith or approach to recovery, but her message about compassion, gratitude and supporting one another is something many people can relate to.
Listen to Melinda’s story in full in the Aunty M Brain Tumours Talk Show interview below, or keep reading for the written version
My Thoughts on Melinda’s Story
One of the reasons I began interviewing people affected by brain tumours was because I wanted to hear about their experiences beyond the medical diagnosis.
We can read about meningiomas, operations and recovery, but that doesn’t necessarily tell us what somebody goes through emotionally.
Melinda’s interview is particularly interesting because faith was such an important part of her experience.
For her, prayer brought comfort during some of her most frightening moments.
And regardless of whether somebody shares those beliefs, I think it is important that we make room for people to talk openly about what helped them cope.
Every brain tumour experience is different.
Some people find comfort in faith. Others rely on their families, friends, medical teams or support groups. Some struggle to find anything positive about what has happened to them.
All of those experiences deserve to be heard.
What I particularly appreciated about speaking with Melinda was hearing how she wanted to use what had happened to her to encourage others.
Her experience changed her perspective on life, and she wanted people to remember the importance of kindness, forgiveness and appreciating the everyday moments we can so easily take for granted.
Thank you, Melinda, for sharing your story with me and the Aunty M Brain Tumours community.
Claire x
Understanding Posterior Fossa Meningiomas
A posterior fossa meningioma is a meningioma that develops in the area at the back of the skull, close to important neurological structures.
Meningiomas originate from the meninges, rather than the brain tissue itself.
Their behaviour and treatment depend on factors including tumour size, grade, location, growth and whether they are causing symptoms.
What symptoms can a posterior fossa meningioma cause?
Depending on its exact location, symptoms may include:
- Persistent or worsening headaches
- Difficulty walking or maintaining balance
- Dizziness or coordination problems
- Blurred or double vision
- Nausea and vomiting
- Hearing difficulties
- Symptoms associated with hydrocephalus
These symptoms can occur for many reasons and do not necessarily indicate a brain tumour. However, persistent, progressive or unexplained neurological symptoms should be medically assessed.
How are posterior fossa meningiomas treated?
Treatment depends on the individual tumour and the person’s circumstances.
Options may include monitoring with MRI scans, surgery, radiotherapy or a combination of approaches.
Some people need treatment to relieve pressure caused by hydrocephalus.
For others, surgery may be recommended to remove as much tumour as safely possible.
Follow-up appointments and scans are important because meningiomas can sometimes regrow, including after treatment.
Melinda’s experience is one example of a posterior fossa meningioma journey, but it should not be taken as a prediction of how another person’s tumour will behave.
Medical information is provided for general awareness and does not replace advice from your own healthcare team.
More Real Meningioma Stories
If you or somebody you love has recently been diagnosed with a meningioma, you may find it helpful to read about other people’s experiences.
On Aunty M Brain Tumours, I share interviews with people who have experienced different types of meningiomas, treatments and recoveries.
Some have undergone surgery, others live with residual tumours or receive radiotherapy, and some are monitored through regular scans.
Their experiences may be different, but sharing them helps us understand the many ways a brain tumour can affect someone’s life.
Explore more real-life meningioma stories:
https://auntymbraintumours.com/category/meningioma-stories/
Claire Bullimore is an influential figure in the brain tumour community. She embarked on her brain tumour journey and was diagnosed with an intraventricular meningioma. In response to her experiences, Claire founded ‘Aunty M Brain Tumours,’ a platform dedicated to sharing brain tumour stories. Based in London, England, Claire also identifies as a blogger and speaker for Aunty M Brain Tumours, shedding light on the challenges faced by those diagnosed and amplifying their voices for better awareness and support. Through her dedication and advocacy, Claire’s efforts have been recognized by Brain Tumour Research and other organizations, spotlighting her commitment to making a positive difference for individuals impacted by brain tumours.
