Help a Hokie Battle Brain Cancer

Dear Family, Friends, and Kind-Hearted Strangers,

I am reaching out for help through what will be the most difficult time in our lives. After months of dizziness and unclear diagnoses from multiple doctors, an MRI scan revealed that my partner, Corbin Newsome, has a golf-ball-sized tumor in his frontal lobe. This news was devastating for us and our families, and we are exploring different resources to stay informed about his condition and to find help along the way.

Corbin just graduated from Virginia Tech with a Bachelor's in Psychology this past May. He had just accepted his first full-time job helping those with mental illness when he was called with the news. He loves to hike, fish, read, and he could beat anyone at a game of GeoGuessr.

Corbin has a craniotomy scheduled for the week of Thanksgiving to remove the tumor at a cancer clinic in Virginia. Unfortunately, we will not know much more until it is biopsied, but we are remaining optimistic and hopeful.

As you can imagine, this journey has led to many unplanned expenses. His treatment center is a few hours away, so his family and I plan to stay at a hotel or Airbnb for a week to be with him while he is recovering in the hospital. Hefty medical bills and prescriptions pile up too easily, and while his mom loves to argue with insurance, there is only so much she can do--the out of pocket cost of his first MRI alone was $800.

Corbin has taken a medical leave from his work and will also need help with regular cost of living expenses—rent, utilities, groceries. I am doing my best to support us financially, but I am also a full-time student at Virginia Tech and have limited time to work.

I would never normally ask for this kind of help, but I have seen our communities do wonders for one another. We are so grateful for anything you are willing to spare, even if it is just a prayer.

With all my heart,

Jada Marine