Help Jake Beat Craniopharygioma

Hello my name is Heather and I have started this GoFundMe on behalf of Lamar to help her family cover Jake's medical cost (copay, Ronald McDonald stay, living expenses) while in New York. The only way to rid his body of this tumor is through surgery in hopes for a total resection. If anything is left behind he will have reoccurrence.

 

At the age of nine Jake started his journey fighting craniopharyngioma. Finding a diagnosis was not an easy journey. Jake suffered from persistent headaches, vomiting, weight loss, vision problems, and increased moodiness which was originally brushed off by doctors as behavioral problems. Lamar was persistent finding an answer and finally in August 2014 an MRI was ordered which showed that he had a mass on his pituitary gland and hydrocephalus. That month he had his first craniotomy followed with radiation between 3/18/15 - 4/29/15. In June 2016 the tumor reoccurred and he received intracystic interferon between 2/20/17 - 3/17/17 which caused the tumor to remain stable until 5/2019.

 

Jake and his family found doctors in New York that specializes in this tumor and he went for a total resection 7/2019 (near total resection). His stay was complicated with a right thalamic infarction which caused a slower than expected recovery.

 

His journey has been complex and he has suffered many side effects from the treatment he has received. He now has hypothyroidism, growth hormone deficiency, adrenal insufficiency, vitamin D deficiency, and is currently being monitored for diabetes.

 

Here we are in September 2021 and his tumor has reoccurred. They will once again go to New York in another attempt to do a compete resection. This time using a gamma knife if complete resection is unobtainable.

 

This time Jake is worried and anxious. He remembers the last time and he knows what to expect. He remembers the complications and how hard the recovery was. Lets come together to help lift some of the financial stress so that the family can focus on Jake's recovery.

 

Anything helps no amount is to small, prayers, and shares help just as much!!

 

Team Jake!!!!