We have a beautiful daughter who is 10 years old. When she was born, she completed our family. We had a son, we wanted a daughter. We had the million dollar family. Perfect. As she was getting older, she was in school and doing well. But as she moved forward with each grade, she would complain that her sight was not very well. We did not think anything of it, because she very rarely complained about it. As she got older, about the age of 8, she started to get headaches. We took her to our family doctor and he said childhood stress. Again, we did not even think that was possible because she was doing very well in school, and she was well liked. Unless the pressure was put upon herself to continue the success. Then summer came and she would still have headaches. I am prone to migraines, so we thought that it was that. She would lay down in a cool, dark room and would feel better later on. Then she started to vomit with these headaches. Still summer, we took her to the doctor again, and he said, she is eating to much bb-q and eating fast. So we cut that out. Then last year, the headaches were more frequent, vomiting as well was more frequent and a new symptom popped up, her neck was sore. Then she was getting a bit clumsy. My husband and I did not think anything of it because when I was that young, I remember being two left feet. So we chalked it up to that. November 2013, I noticed that she could not even walk a straight line. We were on our way to the Santa Claus parade that evening and she was all over the place. I explain to people that she looked like she spent two weeks in Mexico drinking tequila and that she ate the worm. So, I made the appointment with the eye doctor. His prognosis, she needed glasses but there was severe nerve damage in one eye that he was not sure what it was and sent her to a specialist. This specialist told us the same but recommend us to get to Children's Hospital in London, ON, Canada where she would be seen by a neurologist. This is one hour from our town so we were planning on making it a day there when we were done. My daughter and husband were discussing where we going to eat dinner. After we arrive at the hospital, she is taken back to the ER almost immediately. A wonderful doctor came in and gave Avery, a thorough examination and suggested that she has a CT scan done. Of course we agree and one hour later, she was having that done. We wait for the results to come back, and the physician comes and tells us that there is a tumour at the base of her cerebellum but were unsure of the size and needed to have an MRI done. They were not sure if they could get her in that evening, but were going to try. If not, it would of been done the next day. But it was that evening. We see the Pied. Neuro. and the resident pied. Neuro. after her MRI. The tumour is the size of a tennis ball and needs to be removed immediately. Once we learn of the surgery, she looked up at me with super huge big brown eyes that she has and said to me, "This is my last Christmas with you". It took everything in me not to breakdown in front of her. What was I supposed to say? I told her of course not, because you have to learn how to cook the Christmas dinner because I cannot do it forever! Of course, not sure if it would be that night, but it would be done as soon as possible. Seven thirty comes, the same day and she is off to surgery. We go from having dinner and going home to she needs to have surgery and if not done or waited a week later, we would of lost her. Five hours later, the doctor comes out and says that it is a success. They could only remove 70% of the tumour because it would of left to much of a void if completely removed and recovery may of been very difficult. We were finally able to see her at 12:30am. Those five hours were spent crying, and crying, and crying and hoping and praying and crying that she would be okay. I put a lot of the blame upon myself because being at home with the kids all the time I should of noticed that there was something that was not right. How could I let my little girl go on with life like this and not know? It has taken me sometime (and I am still not there completely) that it is something that I would not of even thought of. But regardless, as a parent, I felt like I failed her. On the way to recovery. She wanted her ipod because she wanted to hear ARTPOP all the time. I am just as a huge fan as she is...so it did not bother me at all. We were in hospital for 7 days. Half of the time that they are in hospital we were home. She came upon your website before she went in for surgery, and picked out a shirt that she wanted for Christmas and the socks that were also listed. She put those on her list for Santa (because I still play the Santa card) and I said we will see. Of course she got them. She lived in the ARTPOP tshirt for 5 days (the picture is her in the shirt, 3 weeks post-op). I had to peel it off of her. And the socks as well. She loved it all. She also received the perfume so she smells super good. I told her that you were touring. She asked if we could get tickets and I said we will see. They went on sale and I missed the bulk of them because I was in exams. But after exams, I checked and there were some left but the seats were scattered and we would have to sit together of course because she is only 10 (soon to be 11 on July 15). Everyday, I would look to see if new seats have been released. I cannot afford the best seats in the house, so I did the next best thing: I emailed Ticketmaster to see if they had any available accessible seats because since the surgery, my daughter's eyesight has decreased immensely and she would need to be somewhere that she could see. But unfortunately they told me that they were all sold out and that there would not be any new seats released for that area. Then, I checked again for tickets. And to my dismay, it is sold out. While I am super stoked that it is sold out, I felt that yet again, I let my daughter down. A friend of mine who knew that I was looking for tickets, emailed me a link to a gentleman who was selling his tickets. They were in a reasonable amount that my family could afford and I emailed him asking if he had the tickets still available. I briefly explained to him that my daughter had a JPA (Juvenile Pilocyctic Astrocytoma) and that she would really love to see her. I patiently waited for a response. Almost 15 mins. later, he emailed me back with this: *I AM SORRY TO HERE ABOUT YOUR DAUGHTER AND I WORRY ABOUT GOING TO THE DENTIST. MY THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS ARE WITH YOU.YOU CAN HAVE THE TICKETS FOR FREE.* I was in shock. I could not believe what I was reading. I begged and pleaded with him that I would pay something. I told him that I tell my daughter's story because it is very important to have your eyes checked when the kids are younger (he in fact has two daughters who are going to the show). He refused any payment or recognition. I am still in awe! While the tickets are up in the 300 section, we are hoping that you will have large screens so that she can see. She is super excited. This is her first concert and I am so happy that I get to share this experience with her!! I cannot wait and the countdown is on until July 9th, 2014...in Toronto at the Air Canada Centre. We are leaving our house very early (about a 4.5 hour drive) and again....EXCITED!!!! So, I just wanted to share this story with you. While she is still recovering (I explain to people that what Avery had done is almost like your computer having a virus....it needs to be cleaned and rebooted for her to get better). And her reboot is still in process. But your fans, are incredibly generous, amazing, caring people. Thank you for some of the best Canadian fans in the world...Thank you for allowing my daughter not to be afraid to express how or who she is. And even I thank you, as a 42 year old woman, that young people can grow up and do and be whoever they want to be without judgment. I APPLAUSE you!!!!! I hope you enjoyed this little tale. I apologize for it being a bit long. But it had to be the whole story and not just half. #LetterForGaga #CanadianMonsters #littlemonsters #PersonalUpdates #love #Canada