Brain Surgery Gives a New Lease on Life: Donna’s Story

As a mom of two young children in 1980, Donna Harman noticed an unusual discharge when cleaning her right ear. A visit to an otolaryngologist — an ear, nose, and throat doctor — confirmed that she had a bad ear infection. Donna needed to go to the otolaryngologist daily for 3 to 4 days to have the build-up cleaned out. Surprisingly, she didn’t feel any pain from the infection.

When the specialist cleaned out Donna’s ear, he confirmed she had a cholesteatoma, an abnormal collection of skin cells in the ear. If left untreated, a cholesteatoma can damage the ear structures that control balance and hearing and cause ear infections.

Surgery removed the cholesteatoma without any problems, but the condition destroyed most of her eardrum. Her surgeon made a new eardrum that functioned extremely well, and Donna recovered 80% of her hearing.

However, Donna continued to deal with occasional flare-ups of fluid behind the eardrum. She also experienced allergies and thought they may contribute to her ear problems. She learned to live with the occasional issue with her right ear, but new symptoms began in early fall of 2019. Donna experienced a sensation of fullness, and she continually popped her ear to get rid of the echo of her voice in her head.

Then, in February 2021, a tube placed in Donna’s ear cleared the fluid. While the feeling of fullness disappeared, her ear started draining every night when she lay down. After three courses of antibiotics did not stop the draining, the doctor replaced the tube in July with a different one. When that didn’t work, Donna’s allergy nurse advised her to get a second opinion.

A different otolaryngologist sent a sample of the fluid to the lab for testing. Donna was surprised by the results — the liquid seeping from her ear was cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) — the liquid around her brain and spinal cord. Donna was referred to OU Health otolaryngologist Alexander Bien, M.D., FACS, a specialist in skull base surgery.

“Within five minutes of meeting Dr. Bien I knew I was in the right place,” said Donna. “He was immediately comforting and went over every detail of the surgical process. Since meeting Dr. Bien and Dr. Dunn, I’ve always felt safe.”

A series of setbacks delayed Donna’s surgery, including a bout of very high blood pressure, an abnormal EKG, Atrial fibrillation, and a subsequent heart attack. During that time, Donna’s ear continued to drain, and she didn’t feel right. She had headaches, right-sided neck pain, the feeling of fullness in her ear, and when she bent over the brain fluid would run down her face. Finally, in March 2023, Donna was able to have her surgery.

Dr. Bien, along with the Executive Dean for the OU College of Medicine and neurosurgeon, Ian Dunn, M.D., FACS, FAANS, performed an open-skull surgery — a right middle fossa craniotomy. The surgeons used surgical cement to repair three holes in Donna’s skull base which the CSF was leaking through. One hole was large enough that her brain was coming through.

Despite having slight post-surgical discomfort, Donna instantly felt better.

“I didn’t realize how bad I was feeling until after the surgery,” Donna explained. “I was immediately feeling better. It took so much mental energy to deal with the constant leaking. And my spinal fluid levels weren’t normal, and I had headaches. Feeling bad was my normal, and after the surgery, I realized that feeling that way wasn’t how I was meant to feel. I now feel 100% better.”

Donna was home the day following the surgery and after a few days of rest, feels better than ever. Donna has no neck pain and fewer headaches.

“Every doctor, nurse, every person that I came into contact with was the loveliest person, and I could tell they all love what they do, and they do their jobs so well,” said Donna. “My anesthesiology nurse especially, Shelley Holland, APRN-CNP, was a godsend. She helped me navigate through every step of the process and was my moral support throughout. I don’t think I would have made it through without her.”

“Donna is an incredible patient and I’m really glad to see how well she responded to surgery, and how much better she feels,” said Dr. Dunn. “She had a really serious problem. Her experience exemplifies what we try to bring each day to patients at OU Health –a depth and breadth of expertise that often requires symphonic teamwork among subspecialists to improve the lives of Oklahomans.”

The OU Health neurosurgical and ENT team provides expert diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of neurologic conditions affecting the brain, nerves, spine, and more. Learn more about OU Health’s expert team of neurosurgeons and otolaryngologists,, find a physician, and more on the OU Health website.