Help Amanda Overcome CSF Leak Challenges

For the last ten years, our daughter Amanda has been battling the debilitating effects of a cerebral spinal fluid leak (CSF leak) - a rare and hard to treat condition.

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak occurs when there is a tear or hole in the membranes surrounding the brain or spinal cord, allowing the clear fluid that surrounds and cushions those organs to escape.

Spinal CSF leaks develop due to tears in the soft tissues surrounding the spinal cord.

This allows cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) to leak, resulting in low fluid levels surrounding her brain. Amanda’s brain and connected nerves/tissue are being pulled down (sagging) due to this lack of fluid, and it becomes worse when she is upright/standing/sitting/bending not to mention laughing, coughing and sneezing.

Amanda and her husband Kevin have three beautiful children. Although she suffers daily from headaches, dizziness, nausea, neck and back pain she remains positive.

After multiple doctors, hospital stays with very invasive testing and blood patches in three different states Amanda was left with one option and that is a Dr at Cedars Sinai hospital in Beverly Hills, California.

Amanda and her husband Kevin left Pennsylvania and traveled to California on September 21st to undergo testing and spinal surgery.

Sadly her testing resulted in an optic hemorrhage an extremely rare complication leaving her blind until the blood dissipates. Her spinal surgery now on hold.

Due to these complications and having to rent a car since flying is an issue due to the change in air pressure her expenses have more than doubled. (i.e., travel, accommodations, car rental, parking, food etc.)

Although medical costs are covered, all other expenses are not.

The purpose of this fundraiser

is to help cover these expensive costs. The nature of this condition and unforseen has caused some financial hardships on this young family.

If you are in a position to contribute financially or offer other forms of support, it would mean the world to us.

Your kindness and support are so appreciated by Amanda and our family.

Please keep us in your prayers.

Note: If you wish to donate directly or by check (to avoid GoFundMe fees) please send us a message for more information. We have set up a dedicated savings account for this purpose.

John and Linda Giglia