MILESTONES GALLERY
Click photos to read more.
Submit your milestone/anniversary and upload a photo or video: MILESTONE FORM
Note: In no case does ANA endorse any commercial product, physician, surgeon, medical procedure, medical institution or its staff.
Stephen - 2 Years Post Op
![stephenreiglemilestone37CF6F26-E04D-08C1-D5EC-50D8E430E778.jpg](https://www.anausa.org/images/com_osgallery/gal-12/thumbnail/stephenreiglemilestone37CF6F26-E04D-08C1-D5EC-50D8E430E778.jpg)
![stephenreiglemilestone37CF6F26-E04D-08C1-D5EC-50D8E430E778.jpg](https://www.anausa.org/images/com_osgallery/gal-12/original/stephenreiglemilestone37CF6F26-E04D-08C1-D5EC-50D8E430E778.jpg)
2 years post op and brain bleed. Here I am speaking in front of the Maryland General Assembly 2 years later.
Michal - Dancing, Yoga-ing and Hiking 5 Weeks Post Op
![michallahavmilestone5AED20D3-7026-4664-5794-9685E43399AD.jpg](https://www.anausa.org/images/com_osgallery/gal-12/thumbnail/michallahavmilestone5AED20D3-7026-4664-5794-9685E43399AD.jpg)
![michallahavmilestone5AED20D3-7026-4664-5794-9685E43399AD.jpg](https://www.anausa.org/images/com_osgallery/gal-12/original/michallahavmilestone5AED20D3-7026-4664-5794-9685E43399AD.jpg)
My 2cm AN was an 'incidental finding' from a persistent sore throat. I went into full throttle research mode and got over 12 opinions! My husband and I made spreadsheets, read the latest medical journal papers and at night, held each other tightly. Landed on a superbly experienced, responsive and warm demeanor-ed team at UC San Diego. Perfect outcome- saved hearing(!), face & did a total resection. Healing rapidly, kissing my 3yo daughter's potbelly and exploring the new movement pathways available to me. The body is a resilient ecosystem and fiercely regenerative in it's capacity for healing.
Carole - It'll Be 31 Years Soon!
![carolecottermilestone3C114DFE-5B7A-EB27-327A-DFD5B9D0653B.jpg](https://www.anausa.org/images/com_osgallery/gal-12/thumbnail/carolecottermilestone3C114DFE-5B7A-EB27-327A-DFD5B9D0653B.jpg)
![carolecottermilestone3C114DFE-5B7A-EB27-327A-DFD5B9D0653B.jpg](https://www.anausa.org/images/com_osgallery/gal-12/original/carolecottermilestone3C114DFE-5B7A-EB27-327A-DFD5B9D0653B.jpg)
This summer will mark my 31st year post surgery! Then, I was 26 and in the middle of grad school. Some new challenges were added certainly (one-sided deafness, facial paralysis, balance issues - you know the drill), some self-realization alterations had to be made, but it's been a very fulfilling three decades. Now retired, the fulfilling part continues with much love and thanks to husband, family, and friends!
Kati - Facial Reanimation
![katirodgersmilestone857B982A-F4C1-DD2A-946F-A3F3F880CECE.jpg](https://www.anausa.org/images/com_osgallery/gal-12/thumbnail/katirodgersmilestone857B982A-F4C1-DD2A-946F-A3F3F880CECE.jpg)
![katirodgersmilestone857B982A-F4C1-DD2A-946F-A3F3F880CECE.jpg](https://www.anausa.org/images/com_osgallery/gal-12/original/katirodgersmilestone857B982A-F4C1-DD2A-946F-A3F3F880CECE.jpg)
I am just happy that I can now control the muscle and nerve that was transplanted into my left cheek by clenching my jaw. Although I do still technically have paralysis, I no longer have the droop. I am going to take another step of the reanimation come June to go back in and shave down the muscle some.
Greg - Celebration of Life @ 2-year MRI
![gregkingsleymilestone82418EE4-72FB-3FAF-6BAE-E265A93E3309.jpg](https://www.anausa.org/images/com_osgallery/gal-12/thumbnail/gregkingsleymilestone82418EE4-72FB-3FAF-6BAE-E265A93E3309.jpg)
![gregkingsleymilestone82418EE4-72FB-3FAF-6BAE-E265A93E3309.jpg](https://www.anausa.org/images/com_osgallery/gal-12/original/gregkingsleymilestone82418EE4-72FB-3FAF-6BAE-E265A93E3309.jpg)
I decided to honor those who gifted me my 2 post-retrosigmoid years by using my 2-year MRI appt as a long weekend celebration of life. Regardless of what the 2-year follow-up would reveal, I combined airplane, bus, and train rides to connect Ohio, Minnesota, Virginia, and Washington, DC so that I could visit friends, tour cities & historical sites, and run both the Charlottesville Half-Marathon and DC's Cherry Blossom 10-Miler before coming home - all within 4 days! Since then I have completed 2 more half-marathons and have more planned including my 2nd full marathon is coming up in October.
Tom - I'm more than what happened to me, but it's still part of my story
![tombanachmilestone590C89C1-5C01-1C32-67A8-69DA6FD1D2D3.jpg](https://www.anausa.org/images/com_osgallery/gal-12/thumbnail/tombanachmilestone590C89C1-5C01-1C32-67A8-69DA6FD1D2D3.jpg)
![tombanachmilestone590C89C1-5C01-1C32-67A8-69DA6FD1D2D3.jpg](https://www.anausa.org/images/com_osgallery/gal-12/original/tombanachmilestone590C89C1-5C01-1C32-67A8-69DA6FD1D2D3.jpg)
On July 14, 2015 I had the MRI that showed the acoustic neuroma. Now, 3 years later, I’m having a tattoo of the Acoustic Neuroma Awareness logo. It brought back so many memories - thinking back about all I went through. I'm more than what happened to me but it's still part of my story.
Shelley - Find Your Passion!
![shelleykneemilestone73BC9C62-6604-76F0-9283-E55E4AEC6FC5.jpg](https://www.anausa.org/images/com_osgallery/gal-12/thumbnail/shelleykneemilestone73BC9C62-6604-76F0-9283-E55E4AEC6FC5.jpg)
![shelleykneemilestone73BC9C62-6604-76F0-9283-E55E4AEC6FC5.jpg](https://www.anausa.org/images/com_osgallery/gal-12/original/shelleykneemilestone73BC9C62-6604-76F0-9283-E55E4AEC6FC5.jpg)
In 1989 I had AN surgery that left me with horrible headaches, severe hearing loss, demanding fatigue and a terrible lack of balance. In early 2017, I decided to become a cyclist. I started training and also took Pilates classes. At 73 years old, I recently accomplished the greatest physical challenge of my life - I biked up Greenville’s Paris Mountain, with an ascent of 2.2 miles of incline. It was an incredible day for me! My friends and I went up 2100 feet, riding a total of 26 miles. When I think back to how far I’ve come since my surgery 28 years ago, I feel so proud. Find your passion and never stop moving!
Martha - 2018 is 20/10 for Me!
![marthahubertsmilestone78076923-3297-5121-494B-7141F8ABE1BD.jpg](https://www.anausa.org/images/com_osgallery/gal-12/thumbnail/marthahubertsmilestone78076923-3297-5121-494B-7141F8ABE1BD.jpg)
![marthahubertsmilestone78076923-3297-5121-494B-7141F8ABE1BD.jpg](https://www.anausa.org/images/com_osgallery/gal-12/original/marthahubertsmilestone78076923-3297-5121-494B-7141F8ABE1BD.jpg)
It has been 20 years since my Translab surgery for my AN and 10 years since Gamma Knife for a recurrence. What milestones! During that time, I have hiked up mountains, repelled down a cliff, ran half marathons, and raised two girls. Call me adventurous? No, I am just living life to its fullest and my AN is on the journey with me.
Burgandy - Keep On Keeping On!
![burgandyvicemilestone72D47B6B-C7BC-7923-6D61-E270D81A157A.jpg](https://www.anausa.org/images/com_osgallery/gal-12/thumbnail/burgandyvicemilestone72D47B6B-C7BC-7923-6D61-E270D81A157A.jpg)
![burgandyvicemilestone72D47B6B-C7BC-7923-6D61-E270D81A157A.jpg](https://www.anausa.org/images/com_osgallery/gal-12/original/burgandyvicemilestone72D47B6B-C7BC-7923-6D61-E270D81A157A.jpg)
I had AN surgery September, 2015 via the Retrosigmoid approach. I'm deaf in my left ear, but still carrying on. Keep on keeping on! I'm a USPS letter carrier of 17 yrs!!!