When Molly Britton woke up with facial numbness after a severe bout of COVID two years ago, she never imagined it would lead to discovering a brain tumor — or to experiencing the exceptional care that Providence Queen of the Valley Medical Center
provides here in her community.

The emergency department visit for what was diagnosed as Bell’s palsy revealed something unexpected: a benign brain tumor called a meningioma located behind her temple. “I wasn’t having any symptoms,” Molly explains. “We wouldn’t have found it otherwise.”

As a Providence caregiver who works in the medical oncology department, Molly understood the significance of what doctors call an “incidental finding.” Follow-up MRIs showed the tumor was growing — about half a centimeter over two years — prompting the recommendation for surgical removal.

No long drives, no added stress

What made her journey truly special was having world-class neurosurgical care available locally. Patrick Maloney, M.D., a neurosurgeon from the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) and member of Queen of the Valley’s medical staff, immediately instilled confidence. When Molly’s mother peppered him with questions during an appointment, asking how many brain surgeries he’d performed, his response was simple: “Thousands and thousands. I can’t even give you a number.”

“I just adored him from the beginning,” Molly recalls. “He is obviously at the top of his game. I never had any nerves throughout the process.”

Initially, Molly assumed she’d need to travel to San Francisco for the seven-hour surgery. Learning she could have the procedure at Queen of the Valley — just three miles from her home — was an enormous relief.

“It took a huge amount of the logistical stress away,” she says. “My husband could drive me in at a normal time, my mom could visit and my teenagers could easily come see me.”

“The morning of my surgery, my mom accidentally overslept, so she came to the hospital in her pajamas to see me before I got rolled into surgery,” Molly laughs. “That is the best illustration of how easy it made everything, to be able to have the surgery so
close to home.”

Precision healing, powered by community

The surgery on March 14, 2025, utilized advanced cranial stealth intraoperative navigation technology, made possible through donations to the Foundation’s Innovation Fund. The $2 million O-arm™ equipment provides millimeter-precision digital mapping that
helps surgeons achieve optimal outcomes.

Molly’s recovery was remarkably smooth. She went home just four days after surgery and barely needed pain medication. The incision was expertly placed along her hairline, leaving no visible trace.

“I needed Dr. Maloney’s expertise and the right technology, and I needed it here, locally,” Molly reflects. “It just all came together really well.”

After a lifetime of caring for others, first as a mother, then in the hospitality industry, and now as a Providence caregiver, Molly has experienced firsthand how the Queen community supports one another.

“This level of care extends far beyond medical expertise,” Molly says. “It’s an environment where patients feel genuinely valued and supported, backed by a team that never says ‘that’s not my job’ and always finds ways to make the impossible possible.”