ROYAL CITY - Already the community of Royal City is stepping up to help Flannery Edwards get home. There will be a car wash on Saturday, May 11, to help with the finances

Flannery is the 2004 Royal High School graduate who had to have emergency brain surgery recently in Pennsylvania to remove a dangerous tumor.

Flannery's recovery is going well, even in the early stages, according to her mother, Marge, but it's going to take a long time. The trip alone may take as many as six days, maybe more.

"We hope to drive back to Washington with all her belongings in a U-Haul, including the cat," Marge said in a letter to Royal High Principal Jack Hill. "We hope to leave on May 11 or 12 but will have to take it slow. Not sure how much sitting she can do at this time."

The Edwardses are waiting for three important follow-ups from the hospital on May 10.

With the price of gas and the amount it will take to move a U-Haul and hotels and food, this trip will be costly.

Royal City Festivals is planning a car wash on Saturday, May 11, at Royal City Harvest Foods to help pay for the trip. It is planned for 10 a.m.-3p.m.

Your charge will be whatever you are willing to donate. You may contact Chris Mianecki at 346-2425 for details. She is seeking volunteers to help.

"I'll be happy if we get $300." she said. "Others are donating in other ways. I'll be ecstatic if we raise $1,000."

"We both appreciate all the support from everyone in Royal," Marge wrote. "It has both amazed us and touched us to know how many people care. We have a spectacular community. I am looking forward to getting home."

There was good news for the Edwardses in that tumor was found to be benign. But that does not mean it was not dangerous.

"The fact that it was starting to push against the brain stem was so scary," Marge wrote. "If she had waited much longer, the doctor told her she may not have survived. A good reason to get checked out for anyone if they are having any medical issues."

Flannery is speaking better. So there is hope the right vocal cord is starting to function.

Flannery is able to chew and eat soft foods. The hope is the throat is closing now so no food goes into the lungs.

"Her right eye is not closing all the way yet, but getting better," Marge wrote. "She is working on her right hand and leg for strength and balance."

The tumor was pressing against several cranium nerves, so a lot needs to sort out in the head, Marge noted.

Flannery needed a graft as one cranium nerve tore, and that one will likely take the longest. It involves her face muscles and impacts her speech.