07/07/2026
Rosie's Story 🌺
When I was diagnosed with an acoustic neuroma, my ability to keep doing the activities I loved was a big concern. I love partner dancing and slacklining, both of which require great balance and coordination.
My tumor, which I named Brian, was discovered when my hearing loss was
mild. As Brian grew and my hearing loss progressed, I realized that surgery was the right choice for me even though it meant losing a balance nerve. A few days after I finished college and fifteen months after my initial diagnosis, the surgical team at UCSD evicted Brian.
It was scary to go from spinning on a slackline to stumbling through the ICU with a gait belt.
Luckily, the human brain is great at adapting. After the first week, my nausea resolved, and I
could walk short distances unassisted. A couple of weeks later, I was walking several miles a
day at an almost normal pace. Moving my head side to side still felt weird, but it no longer threw me off balance. I notice it less and less every day.
As my capabilities improved, I added more balance exercises to my routine. By week 5, I felt
ready to try the slackline again. I set one up with a few friends and gave it a go! The video below is of my first attempt after surgery. I did it! I’m not as steady as I once was, but I feel confident that I will get there. I’m happy to have made this much progress so quickly.
Alongside my balance recovery, I’ve been adjusting to a cochlear implant. I knew that a CI might not work well or at all because of the tumor, so I am thrilled to share that my CI works and it works pretty dang well! My hearing with the CI is already leagues better than the hearing I was left with before surgery. I am so grateful that the team at UCSD was able to save my cochlear nerve and place a CI.
Every member of the team was so kind and competent. I chose UCSD because I wanted to give myself the best chance at a smooth recovery with minimal complications. At almost two months post-op, I’m confident I made the right choice.
**Watch her video here🎥**
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/nndOkaaNA98?feature=share
