When Jade-Marie Clark first noticed an eye twitching symptom during her pregnancy in March 2020, she dismissed them as nothing more than an ear infection. As a 32-year-old mother studying to become a nursery school teacher, it was easy to attribute the subtle changes to the natural stress of balancing education with impending motherhood. Little did she know that these early warning signs would lead to a life-altering diagnosis.
A Pattern Emerges

After giving birth to her first child, the eye twitching subsided, offering a brief respite from concern. However, the relief proved short-lived. During her second pregnancy three years later, the symptoms returned with greater intensity. “I just felt like this couldn’t be happening,” Jade-Marie would later recall. “You always feel like this is something you hear far away but it’s not going to happen to you.”
The Breaking Point

The turning point came when Jade-Marie experienced an alarming new symptom: loss of sensation in the corner of her lips. While many might dismiss such symptoms as stress-related, medical experts note that sudden changes in facial sensation warrant immediate medical attention. This development finally prompted her to seek professional help, leading to a referral to her local hospital.
The Devastating Diagnosis

At the hospital, Jade-Marie received shocking news: she had an acoustic neuroma, a rare, non-cancerous brain tumor that grows on the nerve responsible for hearing and balance. “I burst into tears,” she remembered. “Instantly when they said tumour, I just thought it was in my brain and I was going to die.” Though non-cancerous, these tumors can cause serious complications if left untreated.
Understanding Acoustic Neuromas

Acoustic neuromas, also known as vestibular schwannomas, typically affect adults between 30 and 60 years old. While they grow slowly and don’t spread to other parts of the body, they can cause various symptoms including hearing loss, eye twitching, tinnitus, and vertigo. In more severe cases, they may lead to temporary blurred vision, facial numbness, and coordination problems.
The Waiting Game

Being three months pregnant at the time of diagnosis, Jade-Marie faced an agonizing wait before treatment could begin. “This is sick but I remember thinking I hope the tumour does grow so I can get it removed and go back to my life,” she shared. This waiting period highlighted the complex challenges of managing serious medical conditions during pregnancy.
Complications and Recovery

In April 2024, Jade-Marie finally underwent surgery to remove the tumor. However, the procedure led to an unexpected complication: facial palsy – a far cry from the previous eye twitching she experienced, caused by the tumor’s attachment to a nerve. The impact was devastating: “I didn’t want to leave the house and I didn’t want anyone to see me. I was just so sad,” she revealed. “As well as being anxious, I became really depressed with how I looked. I feel like I underestimated the mental impact of facial palsy.“
Finding Hope and Support

Despite these challenges, Jade-Marie’s story takes a turn toward hope. She is scheduled for a nerve transfer procedure that could restore up to 80% of facial sensation. In the meantime, she has found solace and support through social media, particularly in Facebook groups and TikTok, where she shares her experience with others. “Giving someone something to talk to is good for people in my situation to have a support network,” she reflects.
The journey from initial eye twitching symptoms to diagnosis and treatment serves as a crucial reminder that seemingly minor symptoms shouldn’t always be dismissed as stress or fatigue. Medical experts emphasize that while many symptoms can have benign causes, persistent or troublesome symptoms should be evaluated by a healthcare provider. Jade-Marie’s story highlights both the importance of seeking medical attention when symptoms persist and the power of community support in facing life-changing medical diagnoses.