Benefit coming for Orofino girl recovering from brain tumor surgery

A benefit, silent auction and dance are in the works to help with medical expenses incurred during treatment for Taylor Tondevold, 9, of Orofino, who is recovering from surgery to remove a tumor from her brain.

The benefit is planned for July, and details will be published at a later date.

Taylor is the daughter of Chad Tondevold and Stacey Wallace, and the granddaughter of Bob and Marsha Tondevold.

Chad, who was living in Boise, returned to Orofino to raise Taylor. He is employed at Nightforce, but has not been an employee long enough to receive health insurance.

Items are needed for the silent auction. If you have something to donate, contact Brandi Mael at 208-553-6715 or Ashlee Diffin at 208-827-0037.

Monetary donations are also welcome. An account has been set up at LCCU, P.O. Box 1173, Orofino, ID 83544.

Taylor’s story

In May of 2011, Taylor began experiencing severe headaches, and neck and back pain. The first several visits to the doctor resulted in Taylor being sent home with over the counter solutions such as Tylenol. Nothing helped.

Taylor’s parents demanded that more tests be conducted until the problem was identified. An MRI June 2 revealed a tumor on Taylor’s brain.

Taylor was immediately taken to Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital in Spokane, WA and scheduled for surgery. Doctors Ling and Gruber on June 3 performed the surgery.

Since then, Taylor has been making a wonderful recovery. Her ninth birthday, on June 6, was spent in the hospital.

The family is awaiting test results that will determine the nature of the tumor removed from Taylor’s brain. This information will help map the way for her rehabilitation.