Brain surgery stops relentless pounding sound in woman’s ear and inspires a $2M gift

01/12/2026

Sheila Perrin had brain surgery at Danbury Hospital to treat a rare dural arteriovenous fistula. Grateful, she and her husband, Charles, gave $2 million to advance neurosciences and workforce development.

Sheila Perrin, 78, works hard at being healthy. So, it was an especially huge blow when a terrible pounding sound inside her left ear came out of nowhere and wouldn’t go away.

“People were sympathetic, but I don’t think anyone fully understood what I was experiencing,” Sheila said. “The pounding sound was 24/7; it just wouldn’t stop.”

At first, doctors thought it was tinnitus and said there was nothing to treat. Sheila lived with constant noise for months. She couldn’t read or enjoy any quiet time, and it disrupted her sleep. She resorted to sound machines and tried alternative treatments she found online, but nothing worked.

Finally, she had an MRI, and her internist called with urgent news: Sheila should go straight to the emergency department for a suspected blood clot in her brain.

She went to the Danbury Hospital Emergency Department, part of Northwell Health, where she had additional testing and imaging and was admitted to the hospital. On a Friday evening, Sheila finally had a diagnosis: a dural arteriovenous fistula (dAVF).

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A rare vascular brain condition and a remarkable neurosurgeon

A dAVF is a rare and abnormal connection between an artery and a vein in the brain’s protective covering (the dura mater). The condition diverted blood from normal pathways and caused the pulsating sound. A dAVF could also cause headaches, seizures or even a stroke.

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“Sheila had a type 1 left dural arteriovenous fistula,” said Dr. Jon Lebovitz, a neurosurgeon who specializes in cerebrovascular conditions. “While it was unlikely to cause bleeding, it was causing significant symptoms, so I recommended a procedure to cure the fistula.”

“Dr. Lebovitz was incredible,” Sheila said. “He was extremely thorough, understanding and kind. I have never experienced a doctor like him.”

After additional tests, including an angiogram, Dr. Lebovitz mapped out a detailed plan. Sheila considered seeking a second opinion, which Dr. Lebovitz fully supported, but she decided to stay with him.

“He instilled so much confidence in me,” she said. “I knew in my gut that he was my doctor.”

Minimally invasive brain surgery to treat a dural arteriovenous fistula

Despite having brain surgery, Sheila wasn’t nervous. She was excited by the chance to be cured.

On June 14, 2024, Dr. Lebovitz performed a minimally invasive embolization to repair the fistula. Using 3D imaging in Danbury Hospital’s biplane angiography suite, he guided a catheter through an artery in Sheila’s wrist to her brain; no incision near her head was required.

In a sophisticated approach, he worked on both the vein and artery simultaneously. He first performed a balloon angioplasty in a large vein, then injected glue from the arterial side to plug the fistula and restore normal blood flow.

“After the procedure, Dr. Lebovitz said, ‘We killed the fistula!’ ” Sheila recalled. “He was so excited.”

Sheila was equally amazed.

“As soon as I woke up, the pounding sound was gone! I couldn’t believe it,” she said. “I only had one little dot on my wrist. It didn’t feel like I’d had brain surgery.”

Other than a headache and feeling tired, Sheila recovered quickly.

“Dr. Lebovitz reminded me I had brain surgery and that I needed to wait at least a couple of weeks to work in my garden,” she laughed.

A gift to advance neurological care and build careers at Danbury Hospital

Overwhelmed with gratitude, Sheila and her husband, Charles (Charlie), made a transformational $2 million gift to Danbury Hospital to support the Neuroscience Institute and workforce development.

“From my neurosurgery experience, I came to understand better that Danbury Hospital has extraordinary expertise,” Sheila said. “We had the most amazing experience; it’s really important to support what’s going on there.”

“Helping Sheila get relief from her symptoms was incredibly rewarding. She faced a challenging diagnosis with such strength and trust in our team,” Dr. Lebovitz said. “I’m deeply moved by her and Charlie’s generosity. Their wonderful gift will make a lasting impact, not just on our team but on every future patient who walks through our doors. It’s a privilege to care for this community, and this support helps us keep raising the bar for neurosurgical care.”