I don't understand why Mayo is telling you that the gamma knife is your only option. My daughter's story is similar to yours. She is having the procedure described below in about three weeks in Europe.

The middle cranial fossa approach involves an incision above the ear. The internal auditory canal is approached from above and an experienced surgeon can expose the tumor without compromising the structures of the inner ear. This procedure is reserved for patients with useful hearing and tumors smaller than 1.7 centimeters. This technique offers the highest likelihood of long-term hearing preservation.