I am grateful to have a team of specialists surrounding me as I manage my brain tumor. These medical professionals are located in the metro area around Portland, Oregon. I use pseudonyms for all providers to protect their privacy.

Name (pseudonym)	Specialty	Role
Dr. Primary	Primary Care	My primary care doctor. She ordered the MRI that found my brain tumor. She helps me contextualize treatment recommendations from specialists, and she helps manage some tumor symptoms. Dr. Primary owns a direct care clinic, and I have access to call and text her 24×7, which is immensely helpful as I navigate my complex condition.
Dr. Awesome	Neurotology	The primary doctor caring for my facial nerve schwannoma. A neurotologist is a surgeon specializing in brain-ear connections. I think of mine as a neurologist, brain surgeon, and ENT. Dr. Awesome is quiet, methodical, and brilliant. He helps me manage facial nerve dysfunction and other symptoms. Dr. Awesome recommended almost all the specialists that I see.
Dr. Tall	Neurosurgeon	Dr. Tall is the neurosurgeon who partnered with Dr. Awesome in my November 2021 brain surgery that revealed the actual tumor type to be facial nerve schwannoma.
Dr. Botox	Otolaryngologist	(Not my finest pseudonym, sorry.) Dr. Botox is a head and neck surgeon who I have seen for Botox injections into my left-side jaw muscles to calm muscle cramps and spasms caused by facial nerve damage.
Dr. Vision	Neuro-optometrist	Dr. Vision is an optometrist with a specialty in the neurology of vision. She evaluated me, prescribed new prescription glasses, and will perform my vision therapy that should improve my nausea and balance problems.
Dr. Save Me	Facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon	Dr. Save Me is a facial reconstructive surgeon. She is the co-director of the facial nerve center at a nearby research hospital. Dr. Save Me has offered to perform a facial nerve bypass surgery to prevent left-sided facial paralysis if and when my facial nerve weakens and I experience muscle atrophy on the tumor side of my face.
Dr. Eyelid	Oculofacial plastic surgeon	Dr. Eyelid is the other co-director of the facial nerve center at a nearby research hospital. Dr. Eyelid placed a plastic plug in the tear duct draining my left eye, so my tumor-affected eye stays moist despite the nerve damage that lowers its tear production. He also offered Botox injections in the tear-producing gland in my left eye to reduce over-tearing that I experience when I eat.
Dr. Relax	Clinical psychologist	Dr. Relax is my therapist. I’ve been seeing him for years before the discovery of my brain tumor. He helps me process this unexpected life experience, and many other areas of my life.