The Manns family – Unexpected turn leads to brave battle against brain tumor

Warner Robins native, Hannah Manns, just like most people, was going about the ‘road of life’ working and raising her family until a year and a half ago when an unexpected ‘turn’ came about.

Manns and her husband Eric are graduates of Northside High School. Together they have a son Jalen, 9, and daughter Zoey, 1. About a year and a half ago Manns said her son began experiencing some health issues that started with severe headaches. She said Jalen became very sensitive to light and noise, and would have trouble sleeping.

“I took him to the doctor and the first diagnosis we received was that he was just stressed,” Manns said. “But I knew it was not that, so I got a second opinion. Well, several doctors later, they are telling me the same thing. We did live in Atlanta, then moved to Arkansas, spent a short time in North Carolina, and recently came back to Warner Robins. The doctors said us moving caused him to be stressed, but again I knew that was not it because Jalen had also lost his appetite. He went from 130 pounds to 88 in one year. That is extreme.”

Time passed by and some mental health issues arose. Manns said Jalen began to have night terrors, sleep walking, and hallucinations. She had Jalen go through two sleep studies, but said the results were unsuccessful so she began doing her own research.

“I have a medical background and went to medical school in Atlanta,” Manns said. “I’m not a doctor, but everything I was researching and the doctors I worked for kept steering me on a path and it led to having an MRI done. Jalen’s pediatrician said an MRI was not medically necessary so I changed his pediatrician and we began seeing Dr. Jill Waters here in Warner Robins.”

Manns had to fight for an MRI for seven months and finally after insurance approved it, was able to have it done on May 23 of this year. She said Jalen was upset because he had to miss the last day of school.

“I did my best to explain to him that this had to be done,” Manns said. “So we got in the car that day, held each other’s hands, took a deep breath and prayed. Everything went well and then we had received the results. I was driving when his pediatrician called me and she told me that I needed to come to her office immediately to discuss and suggested not to bring Jalen. My heart sank and my mind began racing all over the place. I wanted to break down and cry, but couldn’t because I needed to be strong for Jalen and not upset him.”

Manns said Jalen’s doctor found what is called a Thalamic Glioma, which is a rare brain tumor that sits on the stem of the brain regulating sleep and sensory. Meanwhile, prior to the MRI, Manns said she had to quit her job because she became overwhelmed with her son not being able to sleep and then having to take him to see a psychiatrist, psychologist, sleep specialist, counseling/therapy two hours a week, and going to the autism center at Navicent as well. Her husband Eric also took on two other jobs, working a total of three, to help make ends meet.

“Through this journey, my son has also amazed me,” Manns said. “He missed 32 days of school this past year, but still passed with all A’s and one B. Jalen also had the highest milestones grade in his class. But when I found out the results of the MRI, I just broke down. My sister Cierra and husband were able to calm me down over the phone while the amazing nurses at Jalen’s pediatrician’s office played with him. Then later was when it became really hard. Jalen that night laid with me in bed and asked what was going on with him, why was it happening to him, and also asked if he was going to die. It crushed me hearing him talk like that, but I explained to him what was going on and that everything is going to be alright.”

The next morning Manns and Jalen went to see his neurosurgeon. She explained what the tumor was and what the next steps are to get Jalen on the road to recovery, which is to have a biopsy done. Manns said it is a high-risk surgery and it will take place on July 13. A GoFundMe page has been started for the family and Manns has created a Facebook page, Team Jalen, to share her son’s journey and post updates.

“I continue to be overwhelmed, but now it’s a wonderful overwhelming feeling with so many people from the community reaching out and helping us,” Manns said. “Majority of them I have never met and I am humble and grateful to each and every one. My husband and I did not want to start a GoFundMe account, but my sister finally convinced us because it has been really hard to keep up with medical bills. After Jalen’s biopsy we will then have to have another MRI, and then depending on the results, he may either have to have surgery to remove it or begin chemotherapy treatment and radiation.”

“I again want to thank everyone who has reached out to us,” Manns said. “The other day a care package was left on our door step and a lady from the Jay’s Hope Foundation came over with a care package as well. I just can’t say thank you enough.”