That moment—when I realized I could still see—will stay with me forever.

Not long before that, I was running on empty. I'm a mom of six, a small business owner, and someone
who doesn't slow down easily. But I had this constant, bone-deep fatigue. Then came the strange
moments—like when I got disoriented while driving and couldn't remember what I was doing. My family
was scared. So was I.

Doctors kept telling me it was early menopause or just aging. But I knew something was wrong. I pushed for an MRI.

That’s when I got the call.

“It’s not cancer.”

For a moment, I felt relief. But then came the follow-up: “You have a massive brain tumor.”

The truth was terrifying: the tumor was wrapped around my optic nerve. Without surgery, I could go
blind. Even with surgery, there were serious risks—stroke, loss of speech, numbness, and permanent
vision loss.

I was terrified. But I wasn’t ready to give up. I wanted to see my kids grow up. I wanted my life back.

I turned to University of Utah Health, to Dr. Robert Rennert and his outstanding care team. They had
experience with rare, complex tumors like mine. They didn’t just give me options—they gave me hope.
They made me feel like I was their only patient. They listened. They explained. They saw me.

My surgery was expected to take 8–10 hours. It took 14. The tumor was harder to remove than
expected—fibrotic, vascular, and wrapped tight. But when I woke up, and the light hit my eyes… I knew.

The tumor was gone. No complications. My vision was intact.

I had been given another chance at life.

And that chance? It wouldn’t have been possible without the skilled hands, compassionate care, and
world-class resources at U of U Health.

That’s why I’m asking you to give during Giving Day. Your gift to the Here For You Fund helps ensure patients like me aren’t left in the dark—literally or figuratively. You help fund urgent needs, critical equipment, and care teams who walk beside patients through their scariest moments.

With heartfelt gratitude,

Stacey Hunter, Grateful Patient