Acoustic Neuroma Association
600 Peachtree Parkway
Suite 108
Cumming, GA 30041

A Fortuitous Meeting
Stew Binder, NC Support Group Leader

My wife and I attended a local meetup lunch event recently. It was a small group and I had to arrange my seating so that I could hear out of my good ear.  One of the attendees, Rolf, asked me how I lost my hearing and I told him it was due to acoustic neuroma surgery that I had in 2011.

Rolf told me that he ALSO HAS AN ACOUSTIC NEUROMA! We began discussing our experiences and I told him I was currently exploring bone conduction hearing device options.

Another Story of Remarkable Irony
Darren Raber

After reading A.J. Blum's article, A Remarkable Irony, on the ANA website, I felt we had something in common. It inspired me to finally share my story - also one of remarkable irony.

To begin, I am a very proud father of two deaf children that have cochlear implants. Since I'm "deafinitely left" myself, I have a greater appreciation for the hardships my children faced growing up and how they responded to those challenges.  I am so proud of how special they are. Also a remarkable irony - I have a brother that also had acoustic neuroma. His surgery was about nine years ago.

Finding Support in Others and Something “Bigger”
Robert Fishbone

One of the hardest things I ever had to do was tell my two kids about my acoustic neuroma. It was June, 2017. Though I was assured it was benign, non-cancerous, not malignant, the words “I have something I need to tell you” have a frightening history for them.

Those were the same words we used when we told them back in 2006 that my wife had late stage ovarian cancer.

Struggles Led to a Sense of Purpose and Satisfaction
Tom Cutting

My wife and I have been residing in Florida for 35 years, but I was raised in Wisconsin. Yes, I am a “cheesehead” who still roots for the University of Wisconsin Badgers and Green Bay Packers! I grew up in a medical family. My degree in business with a medical focus allowed me to market capital equipment. Through the years, I was fortunate to work for Siemens Medical while culminating and establishing my own company providing services to physician practices.

My AN Journey
Melanie Hok

A few years before my diagnosis, the only thing that would clue someone to the fact that something was wrong with me was the decreased hearing in my right ear. Otherwise I was fine.  When I realized that the hearing in my right ear was almost completely gone, I made an appointment with an ENT.  At my appointment an audiologist did a thorough hearing test and the ENT did a physical exam.   I was told I had unilateral hearing loss, which, according to the ENT, was uncommon, especially for someone my age (35).

Patient Stories

To connect with any of the patients featured, please contact ANA at 770-205-8211 or email volunteers@ANAUSA.org.

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