Main fundraiser photo

Help Chris fight pineal cyst

Donation protected
Hi! I’m Chris. I’m a professional baker & chef. I like to draw, paint, sculpt, crochet, and refinish furniture in my spare time. On any average day, you might find me lounging in bed watching tv while I draw, or I might be in the kitchen whipping up a new recipe for my baking business that I run on the side from my day job. In May 2019, my day to day routine was interrupted by a migraine that just wouldn’t end. It lasted longer than any headache I had ever had- by the time I ended up in the ER, it had been nine days without a single moment of relief. It took two more days of testing, two MRIs, a CT scan, three rounds of blood tests, and numerous different medications before I was told that my migraine likely wasn’t a migraine at all, but was in fact a pressure headache due to a growth inside my brain. On May 31, 2019, I was diagnosed with a 1.4 cm cyst on my pineal gland. My neurosurgeon informed me that it was inoperable. I was blindsided by this news. I’ve spend the past five years searching for a diagnosis for my neurological issues- for my migraines that seem like more, my grip issues, issues with gait, nerve pain, stabbing headaches, bladder control problems, the list goes on and on. I was so happy to finally have a name for what was going on. Only one problem. Not a single surgeon I’ve spoken to since this day has agreed to remove it. They all say it’s too dangerous, it’s too close to my brainstem. There are only two surgeons in the United States that routinely remove these types of cysts: Dr Patel in South Carolina, and Dr Kim in Houston Texas. My insurance will not cover such a risky procedure, as it considers the survival rate to be between 60-70%. In reality it’s much higher, but it’s still a dangerous, complicated BRAIN SURGERY that can have disabling complications. The cost of this surgery will be approximately $130,000. If I could even raise a portion of this, I might be able to convince my insurance to cover the surgery out of network at a % out of pocket, being reimbursed. But these surgeons make you pay up front. It would be my dream to not have to take 8-10 medications a day, and to not have to use a cane or a wheelchair anymore. Please share this fundraiser even if you cannot donate.

Organizer

Christianna Newcome
Organizer
Boston, MA

Your easy, powerful, and trusted home for help

  • Easy

    Donate quickly and easily.

  • Powerful

    Send help right to the people and causes you care about.

  • Trusted

    Your donation is protected by the  GoFundMe Giving Guarantee.