Hi everyone, my name is Jeff Cook and I am reaching out to you in search of support for Ben Warnick. Along with my husband Mike, I have had the pleasure of being one of Ben’s chosen uncles. We’re not related by blood, but we’re family in every way that matters. With their approval, I’m sharing Ben’s story here.

Ben’s life changed suddenly and completely when he was diagnosed with a tumour in his thoracic spinal cord. He underwent major spinal surgery on December 24th 2025 to remove as much of the tumour as safely possible. This was a complex procedure that preserved critical function but did not fully remove the tumour without risking catastrophic injury.

Leading up to surgery, Ben was in unimaginable pain. It was so severe that he was unable to sleep and at one point asked to be put into a coma until surgery could take place. While the surgery has brought some improvement, that pain has not gone away. He continues to experience significant nerve pain and spasms, and the fear of that pain has made sleep extremely difficult. As a result, his recovery will require ongoing support not only through physical rehabilitation, but also through psychology and specialized pain management.

Following surgery, Ben has been left with significant neurological challenges affecting both of his legs and lower body. Although he has some movement, the spinal cord signals are not functioning normally, resulting in severe loss of sensation, intense nerve pain and spasms, and an inability to walk independently at this time. His recovery is still evolving, and improvement is possible with rehabilitation, but the timeline and outcome remain uncertain.

Ben is currently in rehabilitation at the Lyndhurst Centre, working every day to regain as much independence as possible while adapting to a body that behaves very differently than it did just weeks ago. He requires mobility equipment including a wheelchair and walker, ongoing physiotherapy, and significant medical support.

As they weren’t able to remove the tumor entirely , Ben is waiting for final pathology results, which will help determine next steps and long term planning. This waiting period adds another layer of uncertainty to an already difficult recovery.

At the moment, Ben is unable to work and has been without income for over three months. EI provides only partial income support and does not come close to covering rent, let alone the growing costs associated with rehabilitation, mobility equipment, medications, transportation to frequent medical appointments, and necessary adaptations to daily life as he transitions from hospital care. Ben does not want the full financial burden of this to fall on his small family.

Ben is young, determined, and working incredibly hard, but this is not a short term setback. The focus right now is stability, healing, and giving him the best possible chance at long term recovery and independence.

This GoFundMe has been created to help ease the financial burden during this critical period, so Ben can focus on rehabilitation and healing without the added stress of immediate financial pressure. Any support, whether through a donation, sharing this page, or simply reaching out, means more than we can express.

Thank you for being part of Ben’s support system during the hardest chapter of his life so far.