Abbey Haney's Brain Aneurysm and Stroke Fund

Our 16-year old niece has played softball since Kindergarten, and she is good — earning her spot as catcher on an 18U team her sophomore year. About halfway through the season, we realized something was off with her batting. By the end of the season, she was experiencing painful headaches with increasing frequency. After her parents took her to several appointments with various eye doctors, an ophthalmologist discovered she couldn't see anything out of half of her left eye and sent her for an emergency MRI on September 11th. Things happened pretty quickly after that because they found a 1.5 inch brain aneurysm (thankfully unruptured) pressing on her optic nerve. The next few days were full of additional diagnostic tests, multiple appointments with the neurosurgeon and other specialists, a preliminary angiogram, and many prayers and prayer requests. On September 16th Abbey underwent a 5 hour surgery to place two pipeline stents in her brain, which is mostly diverting her blood flow away from the aneurysm. She is recovering well, but she faces at least six months of regular appointments and additional MRIs to make sure no further surgeries are needed. It's going to take a while for her teenage life to return to normal, and it will be awhile before she can get back out on the field.

She has met this challenge with a grace and bravery far beyond her years. Everyone who knows her, knows she is  a sweet girl, a good friend, and a passionate athlete — but did any of us really know how strong she really was before this happened? She is an inspiration to me, and likely many others.

Our family is extremely grateful not only that Abbey's life was saved, but also for the out pouring of love and support we have received over this trying period. While her parent's biggest fear has been relieved, they are now facing a new challenge — paying what their insurance will not cover for Abbey's life-saving surgery, as well as her after care, new medications, follow up appointments, additional tests, etc. They work very hard and funnel what extra they have into making sure their daughters have bright futures — investing in things like Abbey's softball career and her sister's dance activities. There is not much left over. Therefore, I am asking, in addition to prayers for Abbey's continued recovery, if you can spare anything  to help ease this family's incoming financial burden, please donate.