A woman who ran a family business is facing the battle of her life amid fears she may never walk unassisted again.
Up until last month, Rosanna Scarcella was a fit, strong and very active 40-year-old.
The Melbourne waitress served hundreds of customers each shift at her pub in Essendon, climbing up and down 50 flights of stairs a day.
Then tragically, Rosanna was diagnosed with a brain tumour and her life changed instantly.
It happened during a busy weekend shift, when Rosanna found it difficult to lift her right leg, which felt like it was lagging and heavy.
The unusual problem had subsided after a good night’s rest.
But when Rosanna returned to work, she fell down the stairs, resulting in a 20cm cut on her head – and beginning her harrowing ordeal.
Rosanna saw her GP. who told her to go to the emergency department immediately.
Rosanna Scarcella (pictured) served hundreds of customers on each shift working at her family’s pub in Essendon in the north of Melbourne until her tragic journey began
Rosanna (pictured) is pictured in hospital
Multiple neurological tests were conducted before a CT brain scan revealed a 3cm tumour near the left side of the main blood vein.
The tumor pressed down on the top of her brain, causing movement issues.
‘This was the day everything changed.’ her sister Joanne Scarcella wrote a GoFundMe page.
‘The sudden shock from receiving such news and realisation that you may never recover to the full capacity that you are used to, made everything all the more difficult to process mentally.’
Rosanna had surgery to remove the tumour but couldn’t move her right foot when she woke up.
Biopsy results will reveal if the tumor was malignant, and Rosanna hopes physio will regain sensation in her foot.
At this stage, it remains unknown whether Rosanna will ever walk unassisted.
Before her health battle, Rosanna (pictured ) lived a simple independent life, working for the family business, hanging out with close friends and family and babysitting her goddaughter
Joanne says her sister is consumed with ‘the fear and anxiety that she will never be able to live a normal life, that her brain may never rewire itself; and fears she may never return to work.
‘The horrific injuries from falling down the stairs to the 20cm cut on her head, being unable to walk, looking in the mirror and feeling unrecognisable, this trauma has changed her life forever,’ she added.
Before her health battle, Rosanna lived a simple, routine, independent life, working for the family business, hanging out with close friends and family and babysitting her goddaughter.
Rosanna admitted to her sister that she regrets not acting on the frequent headaches she had experienced over the years.
‘She said, You know, I wish I had got checked and not just popped a Panadol and kept on trotting along,’ Joanne told Yahoo News
The road ahead for Rosanna is physically and mentally daunting.
‘The doctors are not specifying anything,’ Joanne told Yahoo News.
‘The brain is so unique to every patient, I guess they don’t want to confirm anything… we’re just sitting ducks, praying and working with her.’
The family created the GoFundMe to ease ‘the financial burden this traumatic situation that has been placed on Rosanna.’
Funds raised will go towards Rosanna’s medical and rehabilitation costs.
Joanne wrote donations will help support ‘the long and difficult journey ahead to get her back on her feet and walking as soon as possible!’
Almost $31,500 has been raised in recent weeks.
