Facing the Fog: My Journey with Acoustic Neuroma

By Amir Khesro

When I first heard the words “acoustic neuroma”, I didn’t know what they meant. All I knew was that something inside me had shifted — physically, emotionally, and permanently.

Acoustic neuroma is a rare, benign brain tumor that grows on the nerve connecting the ear to the brain. It may be noncancerous, but its impact is anything but gentle. For me, it brought unexpected challenges: imbalance, hearing loss, dizziness, and a level of fatigue I couldn’t explain.

As a scientist by profession, I tried to rationalize it — to understand it clinically. But healing doesn’t always come from understanding; sometimes, it comes from surrendering. I had to surrender to the slowness of recovery, to the silence in my ear, and to the uncertainty that followed me for months.

That surrender gave birth to something I never expected: my first book. Whispers Through the Fog was written during the quietest and most uncertain phase of my life. It is part memoir, part reflection, and entirely a search for meaning through illness.

This blog will be my space to share the things that didn’t make it into the book — the moments between the scans, the emotions behind the words, and the hope I’ve found in connection.

If you’ve faced a life-changing diagnosis or are navigating recovery of any kind, I hope my words make you feel a little less alone.

Thank you for being here.

— Amir