By: Krysten Brenlla
Martha Rey, 69, has lived surrounded by family, friends, and a career she loves.
However, in a split second, the life she knew changed forever.
On November 1, 2021, Rey had a routine dental appointment. When she left the dentist office, she cut through a parking garage, and accidently slipped on a grease spot.
When Rey fell, she hit her head. Although she felt fine at the moment, she thought of her daughter, Jenny Rey-Garcia, director of design and construction at Jackson Health System and a certified speech therapist, who always told her that if she ever fell or hurt herself, to call her immediately.
“I didn’t see the grease on the floor, so I slipped, and hit my head with the car that was next to me,” Rey said. “I called my daughter and told her that I had fallen and hit my head, but that I was okay. She said, ‘we have to go to the hospital.’”
Rey and Rey-Garcia rushed to the nearest emergency room for a head MRI to ensure that she did not suffer a concussion from the fall.
Fortunately, the MRI results showed that Rey did not have a concussion. However, physicians found something more concerning.
The scans showed a large meningioma tumor on her brain.
“At first, I didn’t register what the doctor was saying – I was in shock,” Rey said. “I never knew I had a brain tumor. I never suffered from headaches or symptoms. From one day to the next, everything in my life changed.”
To find the best treatment possible, Rey turned to Jackson.
“My mom has the biggest heart out of everybody I know; she dedicated her life to raise me and my brother Fernando after my dad passed away, so when we found out that she had a brain tumor, we were devastated,” Rey-Garcia said. “As a speech therapist, I treated many patients with brain injuries or brain tumors, and I was thinking the worst – the last thing you want to hear is that one of your family members has a brain tumor. But, I knew we would get through it with the team at Jackson.”
Rey was referred to Jacques Morcos, MD, FRCS, FAANS, division chief of cranial neurosurgery at Jackson Memorial Hospital, and a UHealth – University of Miami Health System cerebrovascular and skull base neurosurgeon, who shared a non-invasive surgical option for Rey’s specific tumor, condition, and age.
“To treat these types of tumors, we use intra-operative navigation, or computer-based navigation,” Dr. Morcos said. “I tell patients it’s like the GPS in your car that tells you where you are at a very precise level. The technology helps us, as surgeons, be very precise to find the tumor and take it out.”
On December 15, 2021, Rey underwent a successful craniotomy to remove the meningioma.
“Had I not fallen and hit my head, Dr. Morcos said the outcome would be totally different. That day was a miracle, and I didn’t even know it,” Rey said. “Any time I spoke to Dr. Morcos, or shared any concerns, I felt like I was just drinking coffee with him at his home. The surgery itself was not painful, and my recovery was excellent.”
For 15 days after the procedure, Rey required at-home assistance to transition back into her daily activities. A month after surgery, she returned to her normal life.
Recently, Rey went to her yearly checkup with Dr. Morcos, where they found no traces of cancer or tumor regrowth.
“If a patient is typically not subject to headaches and may be suffering from frequent headaches at night or early morning, seizures, weakness, numbness, or difficulty speaking, they need to go to the doctor for a brain scan,” Dr. Morcos said. “Luckily, Martha caught the tumor early, and she is now cured; the tumor is gone.”
Today, Rey goes to work every day, picks up her grandchildren from school, and enjoys quality time with her loved ones.
She’s grateful for the team at Jackson and UHealth for the miracle of life and for always making her feel like she was a part of their family.
“The minute I walk into Jackson, from the administration to the nurses, I receive exceptional care,” Rey said. “Thank you is not enough to say to Dr. Morcos and his team.”
Jacques Morcos, MD
Neurological Surgery