Sophia Ransdell Completes Brain Tumor Removal After Three Years of Seizures
A GoFundMe campaign raised $20,000 for the 15-year-old Cedarburg student as neighbors and family friends provided financial and emotional support during her recovery.
By Madison Lewis ·
Janet Ransdell is on the phone again, but the call is different this week.
The 15-year-old Cedarburg high schooler underwent a successful laser ablation procedure on Monday. The surgery targeted the smaller of two brain lesions identified as the source of her seizures. Sophia has suffered from frequent seizures for more than three years. The medical team recommended the laser ablation as the course of action to stop them.
Financial support began arriving before the operation. Family friends organized a GoFundMe campaign that collected $20,000 for the family. The school district shared the campaign with local media. Neighbors at The Woods, a senior living community in Greenfield, also contributed. Janet Ransdell serves as the executive director of The Woods. A collection was taken among the residents to assist the family with costs.
Janet Ransdell described the administrative burden of managing her daughter's care over the past few years. She spends approximately two hours a day making appointments and following up with doctors. "I'm on the phone probably two hours a day making appointments, following up with doctors," she said. The surgery was performed days after Janet led a yoga session for seniors at her workplace.
Neighbors viewed the assistance as a natural response. TJ Schmidt, a resident at The Woods, said the group decided to help without hesitation. "It was one of our family needing help. So everybody here decided to take up a contribution and help her in any way that we can," Schmidt said.
Janet Ransdell expressed gratitude for the community's proactive support. She noted that many people anticipated her needs before she voiced them. "Just how grateful I am for everyone, and for the prayers and for the love, and for being able to anticipate my needs before I can even say anything," she said. She added that the response showed Sophia how much she is valued. "And just to show Sophia that she is so loved and treasured," she said.
Janet Ransdell described her daughter as a gifted artist and musician who enjoys the outdoors. "She is an amazing human," Janet Ransdell said. "She is a bright light to anyone that meets her."
