Just before Thanksgiving 2007, Kelly experienced blurred vision and headaches. While at the ophthalmologist, they recognized that she was suffering more serious problem than a vision problem, and was immediately referred to The Bristol-Myers Squibb Children's Hospital at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital. Tragically, it was found she had a tumor, or cyst, on the brain, between her optic nerves, and in front of the pituitary gland. In order to save her vision, and her life, a difficult operation would need to be performed as soon as possible, and surgery was scheduled for just after Thanksgiving.
While she waited for her surgery, Kelly spent the holiday weekend, receiving visits from many friends and family members. Amazingly, she was upbeat and in her usual positive spirits, even though she was fully aware of her medical condition, and the risks she faced with such difficult surgery.
Her operation was originally scheduled for 8 hours, but went on for nearly 12. Bleeding, aneurisms, and strokes, were acute risks, both during, and immediately after surgery. Although the surgery was long, and difficult, she was out of bed, in a chair, watching TV, and speaking to visitors within a day or so. Shortly afterward, she suffered a stroke, and in the following days, she suffered more bleeding and aneurisms, requiring a number or procedures to correct. Some of these operations rivaled the original surgery in risk, and difficulty. Throughout this ordeal, she was heavily medicated, and eventually placed on assisted breathing.
While in the hospital, Kelly was accepted to Rutgers University.
After many weeks, she stabilized, but still required heavy medication and breathed with the aid of a ventilator. Kelly was then transferred to the PSE&G Children's Specialized Hospital. By early April, the rehabilitation center was weaning her off the heavy medication, and working to get her to breathe on her own. She still suffers from seizures, is very limited in bodily movements and communication. She will need more than a year of rehabilitation, and the prognosis as to the extent of her recovery, is very much unknown.
PSE&G has been wonderfully supportive of the Mahon family throughout this ordeal. The emotion and financial burden to the Mahon’s has been substantial, and financial impact will become much more of a concern when Kelly leaves the hospital. See the left side of this page for contribution information to a trust for Kelly set up to help fund her future recovery needs.
Today Kelly is at the Hartwick Rehabilitation Center, on Oak Tree Road in Edison, NJ.