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Originally published May 20, 2026
Last updated May 20, 2026
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Karen Ross wasn鈥檛 used to being the one who needed help. The head of her own law firm in Las Vegas, single mother to three sons and supporter of her mother and disabled brother, she typically took care of others. But now, debilitating symptoms began to alter her role.
For nearly a year and a half, she had lived with severe headaches, nausea, visual disturbances and facial pain. On Thanksgiving Day 2020, the once high-energy 42-year-old reached her breaking point. 鈥淚 couldn鈥檛 even summon the energy to set the table for my family鈥檚 dinner,鈥� she says.
In the months before, Karen received conflicting diagnoses, from allergies to a potential jaw disorder. Over-the-counter allergy medicine helped diminish the pain 鈥� for a little while. But Karen could feel her body shutting down.
In early 2021, she had an MRI that showed a tumor known as a meningioma at the base of her skull, where the brain meets the spinal cord. 鈥淭his is not me,鈥� Karen recalls thinking. 鈥淥nly, it was me.鈥�
Next, she had a closeup MRI to determine if the mass was benign or cancerous. Fortunately the verdict was 鈥渕ost likely鈥� benign.
Determined, Karen launched a journey of discovery. Her goal: to find the best neurosurgeon to remove her tumor. Ultimately, she would interview 10 neurosurgeons at leading institutions across the country, online and in person 鈥� no small feat during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Eight said no to surgery because her tumor abutted a major vein in the back of her head called the transverse sinus. They offered other solutions that would leave part of the tumor intact. Karen wasn鈥檛 satisfied.
Then she met Gabriel Zada, MD, a 喵咪社区 neurosurgeon and co-director of the 喵咪社区 Brain Tumor Center.
An internationally recognized neurosurgeon-scientist, Dr. Zada specializes in the treatment of brain, pituitary and skull base tumors using minimally invasive and open surgical approaches. His resum茅 includes over 3,000 complex brain tumor operations.
After traveling from Las Vegas, Karen walked into Dr. Zada鈥檚 office at Keck Medical Center of 喵咪社区 in Los Angeles, holding a thick binder of research she had compiled, much like evidence she might carry into court. Dr. Zada gently closed her binder and said, 鈥淜aren, you need to have faith in the person you choose,鈥� which Karen says put her at ease.
He stood out because 鈥渉e didn鈥檛 rush,鈥� she says. 鈥淗e gave it to me straight 鈥� with heart.鈥� And he said yes to surgery.
鈥淚 felt confident we could get all of the tumor out and keep her safe,鈥� Dr. Zada says.
According to Dr. Zada, the 喵咪社区 Brain Tumor Center sets a priority on balancing technical excellence with compassionate care and patient-focused medicine.
鈥淔rom the beginning, we approach each case as if we were a patient or a patient鈥檚 family,鈥� he says. 鈥淲e put ourselves in their shoes and understand what they go through when they get a brain tumor diagnosis.鈥�
As Karen found out, even though 98% of meningiomas are benign, they are invasive, meaning they can grow into normal tissue and affect vision, speech, movement and cognition.
And although meningiomas are among the most common brain tumors, there are no medications currently available to treat them 鈥� but Dr. Zada and his research team are at the forefront of developing new treatments.In Dr. Zada鈥檚 research laboratory, he and his team explore the genetic underpinnings of meningiomas and other brain tumors. Recently, the researchers found 鈥渁 serious gene of interest in meningioma progression,鈥� he says, which they hope may lead to new targeted treatments for these tumors.
On April 7, 2021, Karen underwent surgery. Dr. Zada was accompanied by two other neurosurgeons and an experienced operating room team. Before entering the operating room, Karen recalls Dr. Zada telling her, 鈥淲e are all going to fight for you.鈥�
Waiting for results was her younger brother, Daniel, who had flown in from Sicily to offer his support 鈥� initially on the phone, but later in person as COVID restrictions on visiting hours eased.
When Karen woke, she learned that her tumor had been successfully removed 鈥� in its entirety. Her nausea and facial pain were gone. Her most severe headaches were gone.
Next came recovery, which proved a challenging time. Over months of occupational therapy, Karen relearned balance, coordination and confidence. Her most debilitating symptoms had vanished, but she faced changes in executive functioning and heightened anxiety. 鈥淵ou are not the same person after brain surgery,鈥� she says.
With the help of continued therapy and time, she has slowly readjusted to her new life and renewed health.
Her 鈥渧ery special experience鈥� at Keck Medicine, Karen says, is 鈥渁 testament to what is possible when medical excellence is paired with humanity.鈥�
She praises the Keck Hospital team, from the staff who handled insurance clearances to her postsurgical nurse, 鈥渨ho made me laugh every day.鈥�
Karen took three and a half years away from work. 鈥淚 needed that additional time to understand myself better,鈥� she says.
She hired staff to maintain her legal office and found support from friends, clients and the local law community. She spent more time with her three sons, Jordan, then 14; Jacob, 9; and Aiden, 4.
She also began meeting with other patients confronting brain tumor surgery, some referred by Dr. Zada 鈥� a commitment to supporting others that she continues to make.
In April 2026, Karen will mark five years tumor-free. She is back at work, with her practice busier than ever. But she no longer misses 鈥渢he moment,鈥� she says, whether that moment is a cup of coffee with a friend or a school event with one of her sons. 鈥淚 live in gratitude.鈥�
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