Story

Caring for the caregiver: Neuro ICU nurse has brain tumor removed at UF Health Jacksonville

After suffering from intense migraines, Elizabeth Wiard learned she had a brain tumor that needed to be surgically removed. Thanks to a successful high-stakes operation by UF Health neurosurgeon Daryoush Tavanaiepour, MD, Elizabeth’s tumor is gone and she’s now back to her nursing duties at UF Health Jacksonville.
Elizabeth Wiard, second from left, a neuro ICU nurse at UF Health Jacksonville, was thrilled to rejoin her coworkers after missing considerable time due to a brain tumor.

Elizabeth Wiard has a special connection to the patients she cares for in the neuro intensive care unit at UF Health Jacksonville. That’s because not too long ago, she was a patient in that very same unit, recovering from a risky, but highly successful operation to remove a large brain tumor.

Headaches and migraines

Elizabeth recalls having frequent headaches, but was able to treat them with ibuprofen. Unfortunately, those headaches turned into migraines. Then she realized she was having cognitive lapses.

“Things were off,” she said. “I would say left when I meant right. I was forgetting people’s names.”

Elizabeth first saw neurologist Edward Urban, MD, who found she lacked peripheral vision. An MRI showed she had a brain tumor the size of an apple. She was then referred to Daryoush Tavanaiepour, MD, a UF Health Jacksonville neurosurgeon who specializes in skull base surgery.

Tavanaiepour said the tumor, located in the middle of her head, was causing swelling and high pressure in the brain, and was likely the reason for her vision and speech issues. The tumor had progressed to a point where radiation was not an option and surgical intervention was highly recommended.

“The tumor was large and was located in a critical area of the brain,” Tavanaiepour said. “If left untreated, it could have led to blindness, caused a coma or even resulted in death.”

Removing the tumor

Tavanaiepour said he took a week to prepare for Elizabeth’s surgery, figuring out which approach and angle to use for entering the brain. There was a large vein attached to the tumor that Tavanaiepour was particularly cautious about. If that vein were injured during surgery, Elizabeth could have entered into a coma.

The operation involved putting Elizabeth to sleep and placing her on her stomach. Tavanaiepour’s incision was in the back of the head, near the top. He entered, probed at a downward angle and used neuronavigation (think GPS for the brain) technology, an operating microscope and state-of-the-art micro-instruments to resect the tumor.

The operation was a success, as was Elizabeth’s recovery. Tavanaiepour points out the importance of a multi-disciplinary team approach when it comes to brain tumor removal. Such vital collaboration led to the development of the UF Health Skull Base Center – Jacksonville.

The center, which focuses on patients with complex head and neck tumors, includes fellowship-trained physicians in oral and maxillofacial surgery; neurosurgery; ear, nose and throat; neuropathology; and neuroradiology. Tampa is the nearest city with such a center. 

“Taking care of Elizabeth was a team approach,” Tavanaiepour said. “We were connected and integrated to provide great continuity of care.”  

Back to work at UF Health

Following rehab, Elizabeth eventually resumed her full-time nursing duties in the neuro ICU at UF Health Jacksonville. While compassion and respect are always emphasized when dealing with patients, Elizabeth can now add empathy to the mix.

She believes the brain tumor experience allows her to better communicate with patients. There are times when Elizabeth has been asked by a fellow nurse to speak with patients on a personal level, to give them insight and let them know everything is going to be OK. 

“Going through that really confirmed that I’m where I need to be,” Elizabeth said. “Nursing is what I love and now having been a patient, I really can relate to my patients.”

Featured Faculty

Daryoush Tavanaiepour, MBChB (MD)

Daryoush Tavanaiepour, MBChB (MD)

Associate Professor
Chair, Department of Neurosurgery; Interim Chief, Acute Care Neurosurgery; Medical Director, Neuro-Oncology; Medical Director, Movement Disorders; Clerkship Director