Angelina Santaromita Villa's doctors recently discovered a rapidly growing mass in her pineal gland, but she has to fly to Texas to get it removed.

St. Pius X High School teacher, guidance counsellor and football coach Angelina Santaromita Villa is hoping for the best when it comes to removing a mass, growing in the pineal gland of her brain.

Villa had been diagnosed with lupus, but continued with life as normal while dealing with the effects of the illnesses and the treatments that come with it. Then, a few months ago, doctors discovered a rapidly growing mass in her brain.

Due to the location of the mass, the teacher had been unable to find proper treatment in Canada. She eventually found a world-renowned neurosurgeon in Houston, Dr. Dong Kim -- the only problem being that OHIP will not cover surgery outside of the country.

Villa was expected to fly to Houston in late October for a consultation and book a date for surgery. The goal of the surgery being to remove the mass and test its pathology. If it is determined to be malignant, then she will be able to proceed with treatment in Canada, but this whole process is expected to be expensive.

A GoFundMe for Villa has already raised almost $55,000.

"Unfortunately, this will come at a cost as we will have to pay for the consult, surgery, travel and accommodations out of pocket," said Villa. "My goal, with the help of Dr. Kim, is to hopefully return to my active lifestyle at home and at work as soon as possible."

Villa is married with two children, Messina and Luca. Outside of school, she is described as a fitness freak, a marathon runner, a cook, baker and an artist.