- W
- A
Meagan Lau, my 29-year-old daughter
Kahului, Maui, HI
FUNDRAISING GOAL: $25,000
FUNDRAISING PURPOSE: Brain surgery for my daughter’s Moyamoya surgeries
If you would like to make a donation by check you can mail your donation in to:
Meagan Lau
PO Box 204
Kahului, HI 96733
**previously Hawaii USA FCU was receiving the checks directly, they informed me it was too confusing, my sincere apologies
Please make checks payable to:
Meagan Lau
Reference: Fighting Moyamoya
DATE OF SURGERY: Wednesday, December 10, 2014
When Dr. Powell first explained that my daughter had suffered two strokes, I could not believe him. Meagan is only 29 years old. Soon after she was diagnosed with Moyamoya, all I could do at that moment was Google the disease and try to understand what was happening to my daughter’s brain, what could I do to take this away from her?
Our prayers were answered when we found Dr. Gary K. Steinberg, the leading expert in the fight against Moyamoya. Having performed over 1,200 successful surgeries, Dr. Steinberg is without a doubt the professional I wish to have with Meagan on the surgery table.
We humbly ask for your help in our daughter’s fight against Moyamoya. Donations will be used toward medical expenses and travel costs for Meagan’s month-long hospitalization in California in December. My family and I appreciate all your support and aloha.
Who is my daughter?
My daughter is Meagan Lau. She is a 29-year-old Hawaiian, Chinese, Filipino woman, born and raised in Kahului on the island of Maui. Meagan is currently working toward a career in real estate, where her primary focus is creating affordable housing for Native Hawaiians. In September, she suffered two frontal ischemic strokes in a ten-day period. Subsequently, she was diagnosed with Moyamoya, but is determined to overcome the disease and continue her work on Maui and build a healthy and happy family.
Why does she need your help?
Shortly after being hospitalized at Maui Memorial Medical Center, Meagan was diagnosed with Moyamoya, a progressive brain disease that causes blood vessels to shrink over time. It is possible, then, that her one week in the hospital could be the beginning of a long and unnecessary struggle with regular strokes. Indeed the fight against Moyamoya is costly, especially as a Hawaiʻi-born woman whose treatment lies in the hands of Dr. Gary K. Steinberg at the Stanford Moyamoya Center. In California. More than 2,000 miles away.
Why do we need your help?
In addition to the cost of her surgeries, our family is also responsible for travel and housing expenses for Meagan’s month-long stay in California. Costs include flight, lodging, rental car, and food for me and my daughter, who I will be caring for day in and day out.
What is Moyamoya?
Moyamoya is a chronic and progressive brain disease that causes blood vessels to shrink over time. Although Moyamoya is not hereditary, the disease is prevalent in women of Asian heritage, particularly Japanese and Chinese.
What is the surgery?
Our families have discussed treatment with Meagan’s doctors at length and have decided to treat the Moyamoya with two surgeries, both of which are combinations of direct and indirect procedures. Essentially, Dr. Steinberg will be extracting an artery from her scalp, laying it on top of her brain, and sewing the artery in place. Since the brain cannot be “open” for too long, two separate procedures are necessary.
Budget Estimate
MEDICAL
$21,000 (30% of all medical expenses, which will include hospital visits in Maui, check-ups with primary care physician and neurologist, MRIs, Cerebral Angiogram, leg ultrasound, neuropsychology consultation, anesthesia, two surgeries with Dr. Steinberg, two recovery periods in ICU at Stanford Moyamoya Center, and various prescribed medications)
TRAVEL
$1,500 (HI to SFO flights for Meagan, her father, and myself)
LODGING
$1,050 ($35 per day/30 days at Home Apartments, Stanford Moyamoya Clinic)
TRANSPORTATION
$1,500 ($50 per day/30 days, rental car)
Meagan’s Medical Timeline 2014
SATURDAY, September 6
- Taken to Emergency Room to address disorientation, difficulty walking, and slurred speech
- Sent home despite continued disorientation
MONDAY, September 15
- Hospitalized at Maui Memorial Medical Center
- Follow-up MRI shows two frontal ischemic strokes
- Admitted to PCU/Cardiac Floor, which requires constant monitoring and two-hour checks by nurses
TUESDAY, September 16
- Dr. Birkman orders a Cerebral Angiogram, which requires a small incision in the groin area. A small tube and camera is then inserted in the artery to reach the brain, where a dye is injected to show doctors brain activity. Meagan was awake the entire time, trembling, crying on the cold metal table. She and I both appreciated how compassionate her nurses were throughout this procedure. Yet after the ordeal, Meagan quietly explained, “I was praying the whole time that they don’t find anything.”
- Dr. Powell confirms narrowed arteries
WEDNESDAY, September 17
- Sent home with Methimazole and Metopropol
- Instructed to stay hydrated, take medication, and avoid stress
Tentative Schedule at Stanford Moyamoya Center
TUESDAY, December 9
- Arrive at SFO
THURSDAY, December 11
- 8:00am Nova MRI
- 12:15pm Leg Ultrasound
FRIDAY, December 12
- TBA Neuro Psych Testing
MONDAY, December 15
- 10:45am Consultation with Dr. Steinberg
- 1:30pm Anesthesia Pre-Op
TUESDAY, December 16
- First surgery
WEDNESDAY, December 17 – Monday, December 22
- Recovery
TUESDAY, December 23
- Second surgery
TUESDAY, December 30
- Post-discharge MRI
WEDNESDAY, December 31
- Post-Op Clinic appointment
Contact Information: Follow Meagan on Instagram and Facebook
Kahului, Maui, HI
FUNDRAISING GOAL: $25,000
FUNDRAISING PURPOSE: Brain surgery for my daughter’s Moyamoya surgeries
If you would like to make a donation by check you can mail your donation in to:
Meagan Lau
PO Box 204
Kahului, HI 96733
**previously Hawaii USA FCU was receiving the checks directly, they informed me it was too confusing, my sincere apologies
Please make checks payable to:
Meagan Lau
Reference: Fighting Moyamoya
DATE OF SURGERY: Wednesday, December 10, 2014
When Dr. Powell first explained that my daughter had suffered two strokes, I could not believe him. Meagan is only 29 years old. Soon after she was diagnosed with Moyamoya, all I could do at that moment was Google the disease and try to understand what was happening to my daughter’s brain, what could I do to take this away from her?
Our prayers were answered when we found Dr. Gary K. Steinberg, the leading expert in the fight against Moyamoya. Having performed over 1,200 successful surgeries, Dr. Steinberg is without a doubt the professional I wish to have with Meagan on the surgery table.
We humbly ask for your help in our daughter’s fight against Moyamoya. Donations will be used toward medical expenses and travel costs for Meagan’s month-long hospitalization in California in December. My family and I appreciate all your support and aloha.
Who is my daughter?
My daughter is Meagan Lau. She is a 29-year-old Hawaiian, Chinese, Filipino woman, born and raised in Kahului on the island of Maui. Meagan is currently working toward a career in real estate, where her primary focus is creating affordable housing for Native Hawaiians. In September, she suffered two frontal ischemic strokes in a ten-day period. Subsequently, she was diagnosed with Moyamoya, but is determined to overcome the disease and continue her work on Maui and build a healthy and happy family.
Why does she need your help?
Shortly after being hospitalized at Maui Memorial Medical Center, Meagan was diagnosed with Moyamoya, a progressive brain disease that causes blood vessels to shrink over time. It is possible, then, that her one week in the hospital could be the beginning of a long and unnecessary struggle with regular strokes. Indeed the fight against Moyamoya is costly, especially as a Hawaiʻi-born woman whose treatment lies in the hands of Dr. Gary K. Steinberg at the Stanford Moyamoya Center. In California. More than 2,000 miles away.
Why do we need your help?
In addition to the cost of her surgeries, our family is also responsible for travel and housing expenses for Meagan’s month-long stay in California. Costs include flight, lodging, rental car, and food for me and my daughter, who I will be caring for day in and day out.
What is Moyamoya?
Moyamoya is a chronic and progressive brain disease that causes blood vessels to shrink over time. Although Moyamoya is not hereditary, the disease is prevalent in women of Asian heritage, particularly Japanese and Chinese.
What is the surgery?
Our families have discussed treatment with Meagan’s doctors at length and have decided to treat the Moyamoya with two surgeries, both of which are combinations of direct and indirect procedures. Essentially, Dr. Steinberg will be extracting an artery from her scalp, laying it on top of her brain, and sewing the artery in place. Since the brain cannot be “open” for too long, two separate procedures are necessary.
Budget Estimate
MEDICAL
$21,000 (30% of all medical expenses, which will include hospital visits in Maui, check-ups with primary care physician and neurologist, MRIs, Cerebral Angiogram, leg ultrasound, neuropsychology consultation, anesthesia, two surgeries with Dr. Steinberg, two recovery periods in ICU at Stanford Moyamoya Center, and various prescribed medications)
TRAVEL
$1,500 (HI to SFO flights for Meagan, her father, and myself)
LODGING
$1,050 ($35 per day/30 days at Home Apartments, Stanford Moyamoya Clinic)
TRANSPORTATION
$1,500 ($50 per day/30 days, rental car)
Meagan’s Medical Timeline 2014
SATURDAY, September 6
- Taken to Emergency Room to address disorientation, difficulty walking, and slurred speech
- Sent home despite continued disorientation
MONDAY, September 15
- Hospitalized at Maui Memorial Medical Center
- Follow-up MRI shows two frontal ischemic strokes
- Admitted to PCU/Cardiac Floor, which requires constant monitoring and two-hour checks by nurses
TUESDAY, September 16
- Dr. Birkman orders a Cerebral Angiogram, which requires a small incision in the groin area. A small tube and camera is then inserted in the artery to reach the brain, where a dye is injected to show doctors brain activity. Meagan was awake the entire time, trembling, crying on the cold metal table. She and I both appreciated how compassionate her nurses were throughout this procedure. Yet after the ordeal, Meagan quietly explained, “I was praying the whole time that they don’t find anything.”
- Dr. Powell confirms narrowed arteries
WEDNESDAY, September 17
- Sent home with Methimazole and Metopropol
- Instructed to stay hydrated, take medication, and avoid stress
Tentative Schedule at Stanford Moyamoya Center
TUESDAY, December 9
- Arrive at SFO
THURSDAY, December 11
- 8:00am Nova MRI
- 12:15pm Leg Ultrasound
FRIDAY, December 12
- TBA Neuro Psych Testing
MONDAY, December 15
- 10:45am Consultation with Dr. Steinberg
- 1:30pm Anesthesia Pre-Op
TUESDAY, December 16
- First surgery
WEDNESDAY, December 17 – Monday, December 22
- Recovery
TUESDAY, December 23
- Second surgery
TUESDAY, December 30
- Post-discharge MRI
WEDNESDAY, December 31
- Post-Op Clinic appointment
Contact Information: Follow Meagan on Instagram and Facebook