While on a family vacation at the end of May, Lauri began experiencing what she later found out to be seizures. During these seizures, Lauri would have an unexplainable desire to hide away from anyone nearby. She also had troubles talking, involuntary movements of her left arm, and several other symptoms. After struggling with insurance, Lauri finally received an MRI on July 5th. Lauri and Mike received the results the next day. The MRI showed an approximately 3cm tumor in the right frontal lobe of Lauri's brain. After a little bit of back and forth, the hospital contacted Lauri on the 6th to notify her that the surgery had been scheduled for Friday, July 8th. Surgery lasted several hours but by 10-11p that Friday, Lauri was in ICU for recovery. Several days after surgery, the doctor met with the family to discuss the pathology results of the tumor. Lauri was diagnosed with stage IV glioblastoma (terminal brain cancer). Over the next several weeks, Lauri and her family moved to different floors throughout the hospital as recovery got better and better. After surgery, Lauri did not have any mobility on her left side. Lauri spent two and a half weeks on the rehabilitation floor of the hospital working her hardest to regain movement and strength back into her left side. Finally, on July 29th, Lauri and her family were able to leave the hospital and start their next adventure at home. Lauri still does not have full mobility of her left side. Her left arm has made an immense amount of progress but she still struggles to move her left leg or even stand without assistance. Due to Lauri being wheelchair bound, she is in need of fairly constant assistance to do transfers to the bathroom and bed. As Lauri begins her radiation and chemotherapy, and Mike, Jamie, and Kurtis all have to return to work, she is in need of nurses to come stay with her to help as needed, all of which is not covered by insurance. Since Lauri has donated her time and God-given talents to volunteering for her home church and other not-for-profit organizations here in Salina, she is not elibible or disability, social security, or medicaid/medicare.

After doing research, the average costs of this type of brain surgery are anywhere from $150,000-$700,000. The average costs of chemotherapy and radiation therapy are upwards of $140,000. Your donations will help pay for Lauri's medical expenses. Though Lauri and Mike do have medical insurance, the copays, deductibles, and out-of-pocket expenses are adding up quickly. You can help by donating, and/or sharing her story from Caringbridge.org, fundraising on her behalf, or asking friends, family or colleagues about fundraising advice or grants Lauri may be able to receive.


Caring Bridge link:
https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/laurifabrizius