Woman Pregnant with Twins gets Brain Tumor Removed

CLEVELAND — Jeanette Davila recalls the excruciating pain she endured before being diagnosed with a brain tumor.

“At first, it almost started feeling like migraine headaches and then as I got into my third trimester, I started feeling like a really bad pounding feeling in my head,” she said.

The 30-year-old was pregnant with twins at the time, which made the experience even more terrifying.

“Nothing worked as far as medications,” said Jeannette.

At one point, she lost her peripheral vision.

“Around January is when I started noticing that I couldn’t see,” she said.

Doctors at Cleveland Clinic found the tumor.

It was about the size of a tangerine and pushing on her optic nerves.

“Pituitary tumors, generally speaking, are benign, but some of the effects can cause lifelong deficits or problems,” explained Pablo Recinos, MD, neurosurgeon for Cleveland Clinic.

Due to the size and severity, Jeanette went into surgery right away.

“Getting the news while you’re expecting is definitely scary, but I remained positive, and I felt I was in good hands,” said Jeanette.

As Dr. Recinos explains, he and a team of surgeons devised a plan to go in through her nose to remove the brain tumor.

The procedure was successful.

“Most people would think that a brain surgery involves making an opening in the skull, but that’s not always the case,” he said.

A week later, Jeanette delivered her twins, Noah and Juliette, via C-section.

They are now back at home and doing well.

“They’re very good babies and they’re finally sleeping throughout the night,” said Jeanette.

Dr. Recinos said recurrence of the tumor would be rare, however, Jeanette will have to be monitored for the rest of her life.