Melony Aponte was only 20 when she started noticing some odd changes in her health—symptoms that would eventually point to a rare brain tumor. Initially, she dismissed these issues. It wasn’t until five years later that doctors finally diagnosed her with an acoustic neuroma, a rare, noncancerous tumor that affects roughly one in 100,000 individuals, as reported by the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD).
Now at 26 and living in Chicago, Aponte has shared her journey, detailing six symptoms she, in hindsight, “ignored” prior to her diagnosis.
Early Symptoms Dismissed
“It all began in 2020,” Aponte recounted. “I had some mild hearing loss in my left ear and a constant ringing, but I thought it was just from listening to loud music.”
Initially, doctors assumed it was simply earwax and prescribed drops, but those didn’t make any difference. Another doctor later confirmed that earwax wasn’t the culprit.
“But nobody seemed worried, so I didn’t worry either,” she noted.
Here are the early warning signs she experienced:
- Mild hearing loss and ongoing ringing in one ear—treated with ineffective drops
- Persistent migraines that “wouldn’t go away”
Anxiety and Migraines Take Over
As time passed, Aponte developed additional symptoms that felt unrelated.
In July 2022, she noticed shifts in her mental health and cognitive function.
“I started having panic attacks and anxiety issues, along with terrible eating habits,” she shared.
She was eventually diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder, yet she felt something else was wrong.
“Something felt off, but I thought it was just stress,” she explained, describing 2022 as a particularly “awful” year.
‘Eating Became a Chore’
Aponte’s relationship with food changed drastically.
She started fearing certain foods, convinced they might “harm her,” and began to limit herself to “safe” choices like pasta, chicken, and rice.
“Eating became a chore,” she admitted. “I turned into a germaphobe, thinking every food could hurt me, so I restricted my diet. I lost almost 40 pounds.”
Balance Issues and New Symptoms
As the years rolled on, she started experiencing more physical symptoms.
Aponte said she began to feel unsteady and noticed strange neurological sensations.
Her later symptoms included:
- Feeling like she was “walking with two left feet”
Alongside this, she dealt with body tremors and worsening panic attacks.
Diagnosis After Hearing Test
By late 2024, Aponte sought further medical help as her hearing issues carried on. She consulted an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist and underwent various tests.
“The symptoms started during the pandemic, so my ENT said it could be from that, common flu, or in rare cases, a brain tumor,” she recalled.
In December, she was diagnosed with asymmetrical hearing loss, indicating a disparity between her ears.
According to NORD, an acoustic neuroma (vestibular schwannoma) forms on the eighth cranial nerve that links the inner ear to the brain, affecting hearing and balance. About 90 percent of patients first notice hearing loss in one ear.
“I was convinced it was caused by COVID-19,” she said. “I even told myself that my body was just changing as I aged.”
‘The World Turned Upside Down’
On March 12, 2025, Aponte underwent an MRI. Just two days later, doctors provided the diagnosis.
“I felt like my world turned upside down,” she expressed. “I thought my life was over. The tumor was the size of a golf ball and pressing against my hearing and balance nerves.”
The tumor measured 4.5 centimeters.
The Road to Recovery
On April 9, Aponte had a 13-hour surgery to remove 99 percent of the tumor.
“They had to leave a sliver behind to protect the facial nerve, as the tumor was wrapped around it,” she explained.
Now, she is partially deaf in her left ear.
The recovery process was tough. She spent two weeks in the hospital followed by rehabilitation.
“I had to relearn how to walk, eat, and do everything else we often take for granted,” she said. “It really humbled me.”
Life After Diagnosis
More than a year post-surgery, Aponte reflects on how her outlook has changed.
“This diagnosis has shifted my perspective on life; it’s a part of my story and testimony,” she noted.
She has even rediscovered her love for food.
“I’ve lost part of my hearing, but my taste is stronger than ever,” she remarked.
