Help Kyle Fight Brain Cancer

February 20, 2024, started out as an ordinary Tuesday. My nephew, Kyle Smith was playing basketball with coworkers when something felt “off”. He walked off the court, and then suddenly, he collapsed and suffered a seizure. He was rushed to the hospital but discharged that same night, without an answer about why this happened. Kyle and his family knew something wasn’t right. Thankfully, a good friend was able to get Kyle in for additional medical testing within days. Although they suspected an issue, they never imagined that those tests would show Kyle had a mass the size of a tangerine in his brain. In just a matter of days, Kyle went from being the 29-year-old, sports-loving goofball who, days before, had been playing basketball with his buddies to facing brain surgery.

A long and challenging surgery on Feb 29 led to the removal of 95% of the mass. Although the surgery went well overall, Kyle experienced a stroke that caused him to lose vision in the left side of both eyes – a condition known as homonymous hemianopsia. Additionally, laboratory testing revealed that Kyle’s brain tumor was cancerous, a rare Grade 3 Oligodendroglioma.

Kyle’s journey back to health has only just begun. The road ahead will be long, with many unexpected twists and turns. One unexpected turn happened already when Kyle found out that scar tissue from the first surgery was blocking the flow of fluid in his brain, and he had to undergo a second brain surgery. In less than two months, he has had two brain surgeries!

Neuro-oncologists at Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston are still trying to work out the best treatment plan for Kyle. What they do know is that any treatment will involve countless tests and procedures to monitor Kyle’s progress along this journey.

Of course, you would never want this to happen to anyone. But Kyle isn’t just anyone. If you know Kyle, you know his infectious smile, dimples, goofiness, unbridled joy, love for his family and friends, and passion for his job. Whether Kyle is your best friend or the person who just happened to help you with your tickets for the Travelers Championship, he is a light that shines brightly and radiates to all around him. To know Kyle is to love Kyle. It should come as no surprise then that the Smiths are also an amazing family. They are always there for each other and for their friends and family. But the tables have been turned, and they need us to be there for them now more than ever.

The associated costs that Kyle and his family will incur above what insurance covers will be staggering. From overnight stays in Boston to countless other things they can’t even anticipate right now, the cost will be (and already has been) significant. Their friend, Kelley Risatti and I are reaching out, seeking any help you can provide as the Smiths go through this nightmare.

If you are unable to donate monetarily, we kindly ask that you help lift up Kyle and the Smith family in thoughts, prayers, and love. Share your favorite thing about Kyle in the comments below to raise his spirits!

Please know that regardless of how you are able to contribute, we thank you for your kindness and support. To learn more about Oligodendroglioma, click here: https://www.cancer.gov/rare-brain-spine-tumor/tumors/oligodendroglioma