My name is Blake Lentini, I'm 23 years old, I have an amazing husband and a very busy 3 year old son. I work full time at the moment trying to make ends meet with my husband. I love being outdoors when I can, especially with my family, working on an art project and of course spending time with my beautiful family.

In 2010, I was in a car accident and received an MRI to make sure everything was okay. The Doctors told me that they found a cyst in my brain but It was nothing to be concerned about it "people have them all the time".

In 2012, I was having some very odd symptoms which lead to me having another MRI where they found an issue with my pituitary gland. Nothing was ever noted of the cyst they found a few years before then.

Last month I was having similar symptoms that lead to me thinking of my pituitary gland so, in I go again for another MRI. This time, was different. They refferred me to a neurosurgeon in Rockford, where I live. I went in thinking I was having surgery, something completly non invasive and I had no real concern. I was wrong. While my pituitary gland is still an issue, that is not our main concern. They found a 7mm colloid cyst in the third ventricle of my brain. Scary right? What does that even mean?  It means where my cyst is, its sitting in the middle of my brain, touching the two ventricles that produce spinal fluid. If the cyst gets larger or disrupted, it can cause, the scariest phrase in the world, sudden death. 3 in 1 million people have this, it's so rare. Trying to find answers, I joined support groups and did my research on what to do next. Thats how I found Dr. Kim.

Dr Kim is a neurosurgeon in Housten, TX (seems far right?) at Memorial Hermann Hospital. He does my surgery over 20 times a year and does over 150 brain surgeries a year. He's one of the best Doctors in the United States for brain surgeries and that's what I need, the VERY best to get me through this so I can be around for my baby boy and my husband.

Since this condition is so rare and unique, it needs to happen, SOON! I have to fly or drive out there to get this surgery and stay in Houston for approximately 3 weeks. The surgery is a craniotomy, which means it's very invasive... and expensive.

I need to get to Houston in the next few weeks for surgery. It's going to cost about $800 to $1200 per person to get there, which is for gas or airfare,  and a hotel by the medical center. Paul, my husband, is taking about 3 weeks off of work and I am taking about 4 to 8 weeks off of work. So with the travel expenses, we will be short on living expenses as well.

I am not one for charity, at all but this is my life that we are saving. At 23, I NEVER would have thought I would have to undergo brain surgery, take time away from work and my family. All the help we can get would be so amazing.

Your donation will help us cover
*Travel (airfare, gas, rental car, and hotel for 3 1/2 weeks)
*Living expenses while we are there (food & basic needs)
*Some medical expenses while we are there (deductible and co pays for surgery)
*Income to come home and recover so I can get back to work

Thank you all so much for the love and support we have received throughout this process, we would be no where without all of you!!