Support for Helen and Family

I am setting up this GoFundme for my Sister Helen and her loving Husband Kevin and their two children, Manila and Adler. As some of you may know, Helen was recently diagnosed with MoyaMoya Disease after a series of unexplained brain events required repeat hospitalization.

These events were later determined to be strokes - resulting from a severely strained Cerebral Vascular system. Doctors at Stanford Medicine and Mayo Clinic recommended Helen receive immediate 'double barrel bypass' surgery to revascularize her brain and prevent further strokes. Due to the severity of Helen's condition, the surgery was recommended within a two week period from diagnosis. Without the surgery, Adult MoyaMoya patients like Helen have a high likelihood of severe and recurrent strokes, which can be life-changing and of course, fatal.

Helen will require two brain surgeries and will receive care from the MoyaMoya center at Stanford Medicine. The team of doctors at Stanford are extremely well-versed in treating MoyaMoya and completing the complex double-barrel bypass surgeries required in this case. Overall, Helen's prognosis with the surgery is very good and she and Kevin are feeling positive about their future knowing they are in good hands.

However, Helen and her family will be undergoing some extreme disruption at home during the coming months. She will need to travel and be onsite at Stanford in Palo Alto for 4 weeks, after which she will undergo a strict recovery period of 6 weeks, during which time she cannot lift anything or undergo any physical exertion (cut to: parenting two kids under 3)!

We are working with Stanford and their insurance to receive supplemental coverage for the cost of testing, the surgeries, onsite residence, and after care. Stanford has also graciously offered to assist Helen and Kevin with some of the childcare costs while Helen is receiving treatment and Kevin continues to work.

Family and Friends are providing additional financial support, but we are certain that childcare, travel, and additional costs are going to add up for them during this time. I am coordinating efforts to support Helen and Kevin with additional financial help, and using this GoFundMe page as a conduit for members of their community to contribute in any way they see fit, to help Helen, Kevin, Manila and Adler navigate this phase.

Thank you so much for your love and support! We are all with Helen as she braves this next challenge in life.