<div><strong>NOTE: If you are looking to donate to startup funds for my new nonprofit (in training) then visit here: <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-derek-crosby-launch-the-chiari-voices-foundation" target="_blank" class="" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-derek-crosby-launch-the-chiari-voices-foundation</a></strong>
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>________________________</strong>
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>The below is a personal fundraiser for medical and housing costs while living with Chiari Malformation symptoms.</strong>
</div>
<div><strong>________________________</strong>
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>My name is Derek Crosby, and I'm facing the fight of my life.</strong>
</div>
<div><br />
</div><img alt="" media_type="3" src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/85212775_173692023142632_r.jpeg" width="100%" />
<div><br />
</div>
<div>I'm battling <strong>Chiari Malformation, a rare neurological condition </strong>where my brain extends into my spinal canal, pressing against my brainstem. Recently, I've also been diagnosed with congestive heart failure which further complicates things.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>These diagnoses have turned my world upside down. ️</strong>
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>In the coming months, I face uncertainty and some critical treatment and surgeries:
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<ul>
<li>Removal of a Precancerous Lesion
</li>
<li>Potential Chiari Decompression Surgery to relieve pressure on my brain
</li>
<li>Countless follow-up surgeries depending on response to treatment
</li>
<li>A TON of testing and treatments for both the Chiari Malformation and heart failure ❣️
</li>
</ul>
<div><br />
</div><img alt="" media_type="3" src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/85212775_1736921305726521_r.png" width="100%" />
<div><br />
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>Recovery will be long and uncertain. Some functions may never fully return, but I refuse to give up.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>With my health insurance expiring soon</strong> and uncertainty around government assistance, I'm deeply concerned about affording the medical care and basic living expenses I need to survive.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>I'm humbly asking for your support. </strong>
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>How You Can Help </strong>
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<ul>
<li><strong>Donate: </strong>Any amount helps, even $10 can make a difference.
</li>
</ul>
<div><br />
</div>
<ul>
<li><strong>Share: </strong>Spread my story on social media and with your networks to raise awareness.
</li>
</ul>
<div><br />
</div>
<ul>
<li><strong>Hashtags: </strong>Use hashtags like #ChiariWarrior, #ChiariMalformation, #SupportNeeded, and #HopeAndHealing when sharing.
</li>
</ul>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>Every contribution, no matter the size, becomes a lifeline. Even a donation of $10 can make a significant difference.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>Can you help make a difference today?</strong>
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><br />
</div><img alt="" media_type="3" src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/85212775_1736921208501338_r.png" width="100%" />
<div><br />
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><em>From the bottom of my heart, thank you for your kindness and compassion.</em> With your help, I believe there's a light at the end of this tunnel.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>Chiari is stealing my life. I'm fighting back. ⚔️</strong>
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>Keep reading below if you want to learn more.❤️
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>---
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>Chiari Malformation is a rare neurological condition where a portion of my brain extends into my spinal canal and presses on my brainstem.</strong>
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>This diagnosis has significantly impacted my life</strong>, causing a cascade of debilitating symptoms that have taken a significant toll on my physical and mental well-being and those trying their best to help me in any way they can.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>There is a real possibility I could stop breathing if the herniation causes too much brainstem dysfunction.</strong> It’s a very scary and utterly unpredictable situation to be in.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>For over a decade, I poured my heart and soul into my career as a Technical Product Manager at a non-profit. <strong>I believed in making a difference, and I was passionate about the work I did. </strong>But last year, my world began to unravel.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>I spiraled into a deep depression, crippling anxiety, and eventually, I was forced to leave my job due to a worsening condition I didn't even understand.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>---
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>Living with an Invisible Disease ️‍️</strong>
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>Every day presents a new challenge, or ten. </strong>I suffer from so many different symptoms it is impossible to list.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>There are so many more symptoms I’m dealing with,</strong> but the main ones are:
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<ul>
<li><strong>Constant Pain:</strong> My neck and shoulders are in agony, my head feels heavy and "off," and headaches are a daily torment. I get e<strong>xtreme headache episodes 10+ times a day</strong> that last up to 60 seconds and cause me to lose all feeling where I can't feel that my body is there.
</li>
</ul>
<div><br />
</div>
<ul>
<li><strong>Extreme Fatigue:</strong> Simple tasks like showering or washing my hair leave me exhausted. <strong>My arms tremble, and numbness is constant.</strong> You would think I have Parkinson's if you didn't know the truth<strong>. Vertigo happens spontaneously</strong> and I lose my balance a lot.
</li>
</ul>
<div><br />
</div>
<ul>
<li><strong>Cognitive Decline:</strong> Focusing, remembering, and even speaking clearly are now a struggle. <strong>I forget that I even did something, experiencing temporary blackouts so I don't remember what I did in the moment or even what I did for the day.</strong> I can't even answer that question. I leave stoves and the oven on all the time. My husband keeps me from burning down the house. <em>Thank god for him.</em>
</li>
</ul>
<div><br />
</div>
<ul>
<li><strong>Fear of Exacerbation: </strong>The most terrifying symptom is the sudden onset of intense pain, like my body is shutting down, like I am going to die. <strong>This fear keeps me from leaving my home</strong> because I don't want others to see me like this. I don't share this with many other people.
</li>
</ul>
<div><br />
</div>
<ul>
<li><strong>Loss of Independence: </strong>Tremors in my hands make writing impossible. My job involved <strong>a lot of interaction with business people, </strong>and it is now <em>extremely difficult to function</em>. Even the anxiety of being on camera, coupled with a tremor in my voice and shakes in my hands and arms, makes work impossible.
</li>
</ul>
<div><br />
</div>
<div class="youtube-replace"><br />
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>---
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>The Road Ahead ‍♂️</strong>
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>I have surgery next month to remove a precancerous lesion,</strong> and it is likely I will then need to undergo <strong>Chiari decompression surgery </strong>at some point<strong> </strong>if the current treatments fail to keep my symptoms at bay and most don't even work effectively. Even when they do, taking a ton of pills is no way to live.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><em>I am tired of just surviving. I want to thrive again.</em>
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>Chiari decompression surgery involves relieving pressure on the brain and restoring normal fluid flow. </strong>
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>With this technique, the surgeon removes a small section of bone in the back of the skull. The covering of the brain is then opened and a patch is sewn in place to enlarge the covering and provide more room for the brain, thus restoring the normal flow of spinal fluid.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><br />
</div><img alt="" media_type="3" src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/85212775_1736920811218080_r.png" width="100%" />
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>The kicker is this may not be the only surgery I require. </strong>Depending on the outcome of the initial procedure and the progression or regression of my symptoms, <strong>further surgeries may be necessary.</strong>
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>Recovery will be a long and challenging process, </strong>requiring extensive physical and speech therapy to repair any neurological damage as much as possible.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><em>Some functions may never fully return. </em>
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>This significantly impacts my ability to work and has left me with no income, </strong>with a homeless situation constantly looming like a dark cloud. ️
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>I am lucky and grateful that my family helps where they can but it's not fair to them to have to carry this burden and help me all alone.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>My mental health is a wreck and at most times</strong>, life seems <em>hopeless</em> and <em>impossible</em> to endure. I get angry a lot and am extremely irritable most of the day. I just remember the fight must go on.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>---
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>Facing an Uncertain Future </strong>
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><em>My current health insurance coverage expires in March. </em>
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>The uncertainty of securing government benefits like SSDI or SSI is causing<strong> immense stress and anxiety.</strong>
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>I am deeply concerned about how I will be able to afford the ongoing medical care I need, including potential surgeries, therapies, medications, not to mention just surviving with a roof over my head. </strong>
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>---
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>A Call to Action </strong>
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>Your support is crucial in helping me navigate this challenging journey. <strong>Even if you are unable to donate, please consider sharing my story.</strong>
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>Chiari Malformation is often misdiagnosed and/or dismissed by most medical professionals.</strong> Most doctors simply are not trained to handle this disease because they do not understand what the patient really goes through on a day-to-day basis.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>Their condition just worsens and it wreaks havoc on not only their lives but the lives of loved ones that try their best to understand them, support them, and try to give a helping hand.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong><em>These people are angels in disguise </em></strong>and a godsend for someone that wants to just give up.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>Many people suffer in silence for years,</strong> their symptoms ignored, their emotions, feelings, and pain dismissed as not being real. Their lives being destroyed.<strong> </strong>
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>I assure you though, it is all very real. </strong>
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>Even for the patient, describing the myriad of symptoms to anyone is just too challenging, taxing, and next to impossible. The f<strong>eeling of hopelessness </strong>is a very real threat to seeing a light at the end of the tunnel for people affected by this disease.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>Everyone suffering from this disease has a journey that is different</strong> and that makes it very hard for others to understand the pain their loved ones are going through.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>By sharing my story, you can help raise awareness of this debilitating condition and offer hope to others who may be struggling</strong> and just want to throw in the towel and simply give up.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>Maybe you will change a decision, help them for just a moment, and possibly even save a life.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>---
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>Your Impact </strong>
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>Your generosity will help me cover:
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<ul>
<li>medical expenses
</li>
<li>rent
</li>
<li>basic living costs
</li>
<li>things essential to survive
</li>
</ul>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>My hope is, it will help me see the light and maybe help others see theirs. Sometimes just a little hope is all you need. ✨
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>Any contribution, no matter the size, will provide immense relief and allow me to focus on my health and recovery.</strong>
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><em>Even $10 will go a long way and I will be eternally grateful. </em>
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>I know there is a light at the end of the tunnel, even if I can’t yet see it. </strong>I just believe with every fiber of my being that it is there. I have to believe in the rainbows and unicorns, even if no one else does.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong><em>Thank you from the bottom of my heart </em></strong>for taking the time to learn about my struggles, my journey, and giving me a glimmer of hope. I truly appreciate your support and compassion. ❤️
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>CHIARI IS STEALING MY LIFE. I’M FIGHTING BACK. ⚔️</strong>
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>---
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>How You Can Help </strong>
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<ul>
<li><strong>Donate: </strong>Any amount helps, even $10 can make a difference.\
</li>
</ul>
<div><br />
</div>
<ul>
<li><strong>Share: </strong>Spread my story on social media and with your networks to raise awareness.
</li>
</ul>
<div><br />
</div>
<ul>
<li><strong>Hashtags:</strong> Use hashtags like #ChiariWarrior, #ChiariMalformation, #SupportNeeded, and #HopeAndHealing when sharing.
</li>
</ul>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>Together, we can make a difference. Your kindness can help me fight this battle.</strong>
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>Thank you for your support.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>---
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>#ChiariChampionJourney
</div>
<div>#ChiariWarrior #ChiariMalformation #ChiariAwareness #HopeAndHealing #ChiariMalformation #FightChiari #SupportNeeded #HopeAndHealing #GoFundMe #DonateNow #ChiariAwareness #ChiariWarrior #HealthJourney #SupportChiari #FightChiari #ChiariJourney #ChiariSupport #DonateNow #HealthJourney #gofundme #MedicalFundraising #HealthCrisis #SurgeryFund #NeurologicalCondition #HealthcareSupport #LifeSavingSurgery #EmergencyFund #HealthInsuranceExpiration #ChiariChampion #ChiariStruggle #FightingChiari #HelpDerekHeal #ChiariAwarenessMonth #DonateToday #ChiariHope #ChiariDecompression #ChiariSurgery
</div>

Michael Sanchez

Jamie Holloway

Elizabeth Pomroy

Michelle Larsen

Amy McClurg

Jennifer Miller

Anonymous

Sandra Bachinski

Franchesca Williams

Michael Conners

Vesna Horvath

Help Derek Crosby - Chiari, Severe Tremors & Heart Failure

platform

Platform is iOS

Android

Adyen Google Pay Development Audience

$opt_dummy_attribute

English only

Deprecate Stripe Legacy

dyn_template_ids

Adyen V6 Bene Transfer & MyMoney Campaign Organizers - test01

Bene transfer V6 and AdyenV6MyMoney Campaign Organizers - production

OneTrust next-app audience

fundCountryCode

NextDoor Share Option Users

Fundraisers with Reactions feature capability

fundCurrencyCode

US + Non-charity COs Only

locale

fund country is US and user language is English

personId

comms-internal-person-ids

Enhanced Story Experience Users

Suggested Goal Experience Users

user language is English and fund country: US, AU, DK, FI, IE, NO, SE, CA, GB; 

Poster share - new funds eligible (newest 9/18)

Streaming widgets beta user

paymentProcessor

3DS payment method

user language is English and fundCountry: US, AU, DK, FI, IE, NO, SE, CA, GB; 

GoFundMe Employees

ipAddress

Mark Rieth IP Address

Version 9.2.0 and above

Fund is in English speaking country

desktop

Android v12.11.0 and above

Platform is Android

paymentMethodType

checkoutType

Payment method type group to be vaulted on success

admin pr kit prod

EUR Donation Upsell

Share Text generation Skip Fundraiser

(prod) new funds eligible for amp12 (UGC gallery)

fintrac_cad_idv_form_v2 audience

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fallback mode accounts

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p2p legacy startfundraising page

AMP24 New Funds Only PROD (DO NOT MODIFY)

countryCode

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UKCharities

Federated Search Internal Testing

route.pathname community

US Donation Upsell audience 

Auto Thanks Feature Audience

Supporter Comments Eligible Funds

International Only

fundId

braze fundraiser group 

Payment Identity Transfers ATO Risk Check (Targeted) - Production

Fundraiser Saved Payment Method Rate Limit Bypass (Production)

leaderboard-partner-id-audience-givepanel

Version 9.2.1 and above

AUD Donation Upsell audience

fundraiserCountryCode is US/EN

Active Fundraiser - Smart Default Cadence

DAF Internal

Vault on success card payment method

Platform is iOS v11.0.0 and above

Desktop users

Person ids

United States (US) users

allow yuno fundraisers for test

Mexico country code

Posters INTL

NPO Profile Opted-In

iOS at or above 12.4.0

non-US recurring donors

Canada Campaign Owner Group

Fundraiser Without Meta Link

Scheduler payment tester gorup

charityCommunityId

Charities allow to be claimed unclaimed (PRD)

Canada (CA) users

currencyCode

UC Tipping v20250115 International

pymk_production_xplr_fe_team

Android at or above 12.2.0

Profile photo entry point audience

smart goals (fundraiser/manage) on test01

Activity Tracking v1 Beta Testing

writePath

Stream Notification

start gfm intl allowed locales

Platform is iOS v11.2.0 and above

unclaimed charities

prod_ach_audience

AI Chatbot Audience

amp13 only new funds (prod) (anyword auto)

UC Flow Enabled (Prod)

Payment Identity Beneficiary Verification - Production

shared notification bell audience

Custom users

ach frontend audience

Android v11.0.0 and above

Users Receiving Payments Paused Notifications

smart goals test01

Manage Coach - US English Organizers Only + new funds only

Team EGG - IP Address list

Fundraiser Without Instagram Deep Link

Native 11.4.0 and above

UC Tipping v20250107

Users Receiving Braze KYC Validation Failed

Native 11.3.0 and above

Influencer - Prod

US fundraisers and US users

ai_title_page

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openai

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fundHasInstagramDeepLink

Native 11.4.0 and higher

New funds eligible - Video Sharing (PROD)

GB Donation Upsell audience 

Auto Thanks V3 Rollout Audience

Thank you V3 testing whitelist

isRecurringFriendly

Is Recurring Friendly

Excluded funds - Video Sharing

Logged In Users

CH Donation Upsell audience

Android v10.6.0 and above

userCurrencyCode

Localized Currency

v11.5.0 and above

testAudience

pathname

Survicate

appVersion is at or above 12.8.0

Non-charity fund

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challenge-fundraisers

Payment Identity Launch Verification - Production

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CAD Donation Upsell Audience

Braze Email Tester

NPO Profile Opted-Out

iOS App Version

hasKnownDonors

PYMK has donors

iOS v12.3.0 and above

Help Derek Crosby - Chiari, Severe Tremors & Heart Failure

Still $9,856 to go. Help us build momentum.