Mother of the bride has brain surgery before the wedding

At 60 years old, Karen never expected a trip to Jacksonville to turn into a medical emergency. What began as a joyful visit with friends quickly became a life-altering moment that required immediate medical care.

Until then, Karen lived a full and joy-filled life in Clover, South Carolina. She has been married to her husband, Harry, for 40 years, raised three children, and proudly embraces her role as a grandmother to two young grandchildren.

During their trip to Jacksonville, Karen and Harry arrived early to reconnect with longtime friends ahead of a celebration. After enjoying dinner together one Tuesday evening, they returned to their hotel. When Harry briefly stepped out to retrieve something from the car, Karen experienced her first seizure. He returned to find her on the bathroom floor, breathing heavily and unresponsive. He immediately called 911.

Paramedics transported Karen by ambulance first to Ascension St. Vincent's St. Johns County and after ED coordination with neurosurgeon Dr. Aristotelis Filippidis to Ascension St. Vincent’s Riverside.

CT and MRI scans revealed the cause of Karen’s seizures, a large, baseball size brain mass causing significant brain swelling, later identified as a meningioma tumor on the left frontal lobe. Dr. Filippidis and his physician assistant, Ryan, met with Karen and her family to explain the diagnosis, review the imaging results, and discuss the recommended treatment: a craniotomy to remove the tumor causing seizures.

Dr. Filippidis asked Karen about symptoms such as migraines, vision changes, or weakness, but she had not experienced any of them. Looking back with her husband Harry, Karen started to recognize changes and symptoms she had been experiencing over the past year, including anxiety, difficulty focusing and personality changes she had attributed to stress and life transitions.

Despite the seriousness of the situation, Karen never felt afraid. “I never felt fear. I felt peace, and I knew everything was happening the way it was supposed to,” she said. She remembers hearing morning and evening devotions softly played through the hallways, which brought her an immediate sense of calm and reassurance.

Following a successful surgery, Karen cherished the opportunity to watch her daughter walk down the aisle through a live video phone call the next day. “I wasn’t there in person, but I was there in heart and spirit,” she said.

To support Karen’s daughter on her wedding day, Dr. Filippidis sent a handwritten card and wedding gift for the newlyweds, acknowledging the moment Karen could not attend in person. He continued to check in on Karen’s recovery even after she returned home, an act of compassion that left a lasting impression on her family.

Karen returned home surrounded by family, friends, and a strong church community. Today, her recovery continues to exceed expectations. Her baseball size tumor was completely removed, without her having any deficits or complications. She stopped having seizures. She remains deeply grateful for the care she received from Dr. Filippidis and for the support HTMLthat carried her through an unexpected medical emergency. “My life is a God story. I’m proof that we’re all only one prayer away from a testimony,” Karen said.

Karen, although offered to be monitored in South Carolina, prefers to drive for seven hours to visit Dr. Filippidis at Ascension St. Vincent’s Riverside for follow-up care when her physical presence is needed. When she’s not visiting Dr. Filippidis, Karen enjoys spending time at the beach, spending time with her family, and looks forward to traveling more.

The neurosurgeons at Ascension St. Vincent’s Riverside are leaders in brain and spine surgery, complex brain tumors, stroke interventions and advanced treatments for AVMs and aneurysms. Our care teams specialize in brain health, cranial surgery and spinal surgery, using robotics, fluorescent guided surgery, Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy (LITT) treatment, and brain mapping for complex and sensitive procedures. Start a conversation with a neurosurgeon who listens and delivers a personalized, compassionate care experience.

If you or your loved one is looking for personalized brain tumor or spine care, Dr. Filippidis is here for you.