Acoustic neuroma, also known as vestibular schwannoma, is a fancy medical way of saying there is a stubborn, noncancerous tumor growing on the nerve that connects the ear to the brain. The little tumor can press so hard on the facial nerve that it causes paralysis, switching off one side of your smile. Raila Junior happens to be dealing with this condition. In his case, the tumor has put pressure on the nerve on the right side of his face, leading to facial paralysis and a slightly twisted mouth. Junior admits he has tried everything possible, from therapy to treatments that promised miracles, but none of them worked. All he can do now is just accept and manage the condition. The right side of his face is switched off/ disconnected from the brain. Recovery, he says, is one thing the doctors forgot to include in the package. The main cause of acoustic neuroma remains a mystery, probably one of those medical puzzles scientists are still scratching their heads over.
