Tech. Sgt. Ashley Bean spent her summer prepping for an upcoming marathon, one of two she planned to run this year. The reservist had even made a goal to beat her fastest time, until an MRI scan changed her plans.

After having migraines and dizzy spells at work, the imagery analyst from Beale Air Force Base, Calif.  made an appointment with a neurologist where they did coordination and walking tests. From those tests, they determined she needed an MRI to further determine what was wrong.

The MRI showed a golf ball-sized tumor wrapped around her brain stem and near the ear canal.

"The tumor had been growing for 10 years," Bean said. "The doctors were surprised I had no symptoms that are usually associated with this kind of tumor. I had perfect hearing."

Bean was diagnosed with Acoustic Neuroma. Although the tumor was benign, the doctors decided to operate immediately because of its location on the brain stem

"I'd been preparing for an upcoming marathon when they told me I needed to stop running," Bean said. "I even ran five miles the day of the MRI."

Bean had surgery Sept. 4, 45 days before a half-marathon in San Francisco. Despite the challenges, she still participated.

"I decided to participate after surgery to prove to myself that I could still do it," she said. "I wanted to at least walk it, but I ended up running half of it. I hadn't ran more than a mile and a half before then."

Bean still has 15 percent of the tumor left because of its location. She will undergo radiation surgery in December to try to remove the remaining tumor.

Throughout the challenging experience, Bean said her husband was her greatest support.

"He was there by my side throughout it all," she said. "He was there from finding out to surgery to recovery."

Bean's husband, Staff Sgt. Phillip Bean, a 60th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew chief, stationed here, helped by being by her side.

"I did anything and everything for her," Phillip said. "Anything she needed I was there for her. I was out of work during the surgery to be by her side.

Phillip squadron even helped out by providing the family with meals the week of the surgery.

"My unit did a food train for us and all my leadership, from my supervisor to squadron commander, called daily to see how my wife was doing," Phillip said. "They even raised money for fuel to go to and from appointments. My first sergeant ensured I had approval for my non-medical escort so I didn't have to worry about the paperwork. They were a great support system for us.”

Ashley said it's hard for her to believe she had a tumor and surgery, but says having a great support system helped her stay resilient.

"Having people to talk to, family and co-workers, really helped me pull though," Ashley said. "It's important to have this support system to stay resilient."