Anna De Alto Tilles Anna Tilles

Hi everyone,

 Thank you for visiting Anna’s CaringBridge page.  Anna, David, Natasha, Jessica, and Sam will be using this page to share updates on Anna’s progress with our wonderful friends and family.  We truly appreciate the outpouring of encouraging words and support we’ve already received, and are so grateful to be surrounded by such caring and faith-filled people.  Over the coming months, we will continue to share news using this platform, and will respond to questions and other notes as often as we can.  We know that our mom is one popular lady ;) and there are many people who are eager to hear how she is doing and offer encouragement.  This page will help us keep everyone as up to speed as possible, while also making sure that Anna can stay focused on her recovery in the weeks after her surgery.  Thank you in advance for your hugs, notes, prayers, and positive vibes — they mean the world to all of us!

Love,
Anna, David, Jessica, Natasha, & Sam

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Anna’s Journey (So Far):
In early December 2016, Anna went to the emergency room and received a CT after reporting hearing voices.  The CT scan appeared normal and it was thought that the voices might be a side-effect of some recently prescribed medications or due to stress.

About a week later, Anna’s doctor ordered a follow up MRI as the voices had not subsided, and a small spot on the right side of the brain was discovered.  After consulting several different experts at UCLA and USC, it was decided to have a follow up MRI done after 2 weeks time to confirm the type of growth and gauge how quickly it was growing.

On 12/27/16, Anna had a second MRI (sidenote: the technician took over 13,000 images in ~45 minutes…modern medicine is amazing), and a couple days later we received confirmation that the growth is a tumor.  The doctor diagnosed the growth as a high grade glioma, but felt hopeful that the tumor was caught early and had not grown since the initial MRI two weeks earlier.

Anna and David met with the neurosurgeon, and after consulting with additional doctors, she had a craniotomy on 1/23/17.  Doctors removed as much of the tumor as possible and Anna recovered like a champ!

Throughout this process, Anna remains extremely positive and at peace with the path forward.  She feels incredibly encouraged and uplifted by the support, kind words, and prayers provided by people from all parts of her life, and trusts the hands and minds of her doctors.   David,  Jessica, Natasha, and Sam will be by Anna’s side throughout every step of the process,  and are in constant awe of their mom's strength.   We count our blessings every day and know that God is watching over Anna!