For years, Shanna Adamic dazzled crowds as a cheerleader for the Kansas City Chiefs, hyping up fans and embracing the thrill of game day.

But behind the bright lights and roaring stadiums, she faced a troubling health concern that was dismissed time and again.

In 2011, Adamic, then 44, noticed she couldn’t hear out of her right ear.

What began as a minor concern soon spiraled into a years-long search for answers.

Despite repeated doctor visits, her symptoms—persistent headaches, blurred vision, and slurred speech—were brushed off.

Time and again, she was told she was simply exhausted from being a mother of three, struggling with hormonal changes, or even just dehydrated.

The Frustrating Road to Diagnosis

Adamic recalls being told she might have anything from a sinus infection to vertigo or even Lemierre’s disease.

One doctor even suggested that years of exposure to loud stadium noise had damaged her hearing.

In an attempt to rule out anything serious, she underwent a CT scan.

The results? A seemingly healthy brain, leaving her once again with no real answers.

Frustrated and doubting her own instincts, she almost accepted that maybe it was all in her head.

A Life-Saving Twist of Fate

Then, a chance moment changed everything.

Watching an interview on the TODAY show, Adamic heard a celebrity describe symptoms eerily similar to her own.

Encouraged by her husband, she pushed for more tests—this time, an MRI.

The results were shocking: a nearly two-inch tumor growing in her right ear, dangerously pressing against her brainstem.

The tumor, known as an acoustic neuroma or vestibular schwannoma, is rare, affecting only about 2,500 people in the U.S. each year.

While non-cancerous, its location made it potentially life-threatening.

Facing the “Ticking Time Bomb”

Doctors warned Adamic that the tumor was compressing vital brain functions.

One physician described it as a “ticking time bomb,” emphasizing the urgency of surgery.

However, the doctor who diagnosed her couldn’t perform the necessary procedure.

Determined to find the right specialist, Adamic turned to social media, where she reconnected with an old college friend, Dr. Amy Pittman, an otolaryngologist at Loyola Medicine in Illinois.

Dr. Pittman quickly consulted with her colleagues, Dr. John Leonetti and Dr. Douglas Anderson, who agreed to take on Adamic’s case.

A 13-Hour Battle in the Operating Room

Days later, Adamic traveled to Loyola Medicine for surgery.

Dr. Anderson reassured her, “You’re going to go to sleep and wake up and get your life back.”

For 13 hours, a team of surgeons worked meticulously, successfully removing 99% of the tumor.

When she woke up, however, the aftermath was immediate—she had partial facial paralysis on her right side, lost hearing in her right ear, and couldn’t chew or close one eye.

Rediscovering Strength in the Face of Change

Adamic faced a long and grueling recovery.

Looking in the mirror was difficult, so she wrote herself a note: “I will smile with all my teeth again.

I will be able to swallow on both sides. I will close my eyes completely. I will be a better version of me.”

She refused to let the challenges define her.

Through intense physical therapy and unwavering determination, she gradually regained her strength.

“I had to dig deep and decide how I was going to love this version of me,” she said.

Trusting Her Inner Voice

Reflecting on her journey, Adamic credits her perseverance for finally getting the right diagnosis.

“For years, I kept feeling like something was wrong, even when doctors told me otherwise. I had to trust myself.”

Today, an MRI confirms that Adamic is tumor-free, and she has not needed any additional surgeries or treatments.

Loyola Medicine specialists celebrate her as a remarkable case, and she hopes her story inspires others to advocate for their own health.

A Message to Others: Fight for Answers

For anyone struggling with unexplained health issues, Adamic has one piece of advice: “You know your body better than anyone else.

If something feels wrong, keep pushing for answers.

Be your own advocate—because no one else will do it for you.”

After years of struggle, misdiagnosis, and resilience, she has not only regained her life but also found a renewed purpose—helping others recognize the power of persistence and self-advocacy.

This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!

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