Donation protected
My name is Colleen (Mooney) Vaiciulis. My brother is Brian Mooney. We are from East Moriches, NY and went to EMO and WHBHS. I love my brother so much I will beg for his well-being. Because he never would.
Anyone who knows either of us probably knows about Brian's tragic struggle with spinal problems his entire adult life. If you know Brian you also know that he is a loyal, loving, compassionate, reliable, and sensitive friend/son/brother/uncle/nephew/cousin. Brian has had several spinal surgeries and endured years of doctor visits and invasive tests. He's only 38. Recently, we figured out that he suffers from Bertolotti's Syndrome.
In the above picture on the left you see Brian's spine and the "cage" that was most recently built around the vertebrae in 2013. In the picture on the right you see Brian's Bertolotti's where the lowest vertebrae has grown out of control and fused to his pelvis. This impedes on the spinal nerve and makes it a struggle to even walk. Bertolotti's is a congenital birth defect that is so rare that no one in the US was able to diagnose or treat this over the past 10 years. Brian did his own research over the course of three years and presented his findings to the surgeon who performed his last spinal fusion. Finally, the doctors agree with Brian's self-diagnosis and have designed a procedure that will be able to fix it. This means another surgery for Brian on June 16th where they will separate his spine from his pelvis.
Brian was asked by his HR to take leave from his job and FMLA protection has run out. He has not been able to work since March 10th and won't be able to work for a period of time after this surgery. Everyone who knows Brian knows that he is a dedicated employee and has never shied away from hard work. Paid or unpaid...
I respectfully beseech all who know Brian (or I) to pledge anything they choose to offset the hardship of this medical derailment. It is my heart's hope that he regain his mobility and and I leave it with God to heal him. I pray he can be restored to this handsome, funny, (and available, :-) fellow that we all know and love!
Thirteen is my lucky number and that's why I've set the goal at 13k.
Anyone who knows either of us probably knows about Brian's tragic struggle with spinal problems his entire adult life. If you know Brian you also know that he is a loyal, loving, compassionate, reliable, and sensitive friend/son/brother/uncle/nephew/cousin. Brian has had several spinal surgeries and endured years of doctor visits and invasive tests. He's only 38. Recently, we figured out that he suffers from Bertolotti's Syndrome.
In the above picture on the left you see Brian's spine and the "cage" that was most recently built around the vertebrae in 2013. In the picture on the right you see Brian's Bertolotti's where the lowest vertebrae has grown out of control and fused to his pelvis. This impedes on the spinal nerve and makes it a struggle to even walk. Bertolotti's is a congenital birth defect that is so rare that no one in the US was able to diagnose or treat this over the past 10 years. Brian did his own research over the course of three years and presented his findings to the surgeon who performed his last spinal fusion. Finally, the doctors agree with Brian's self-diagnosis and have designed a procedure that will be able to fix it. This means another surgery for Brian on June 16th where they will separate his spine from his pelvis.
Brian was asked by his HR to take leave from his job and FMLA protection has run out. He has not been able to work since March 10th and won't be able to work for a period of time after this surgery. Everyone who knows Brian knows that he is a dedicated employee and has never shied away from hard work. Paid or unpaid...
I respectfully beseech all who know Brian (or I) to pledge anything they choose to offset the hardship of this medical derailment. It is my heart's hope that he regain his mobility and and I leave it with God to heal him. I pray he can be restored to this handsome, funny, (and available, :-) fellow that we all know and love!
Thirteen is my lucky number and that's why I've set the goal at 13k.
Organizer and beneficiary
Colleen Vaiciulis
Organizer
East Moriches, NY
Brian Mooney
Beneficiary