Help Lakaii to become seizure free!

My name is Lakaii Knowles and I am currently residing in Grand Bahama with my parents. Since the age of 5, I started having epileptic seizures due to a terrible fall at home and it was discovered that I have a brain tumor called oligodendroglioma. I would have up to 10 seizures per month. Luckily, at that time my parents were employed and able to pay for my first brain surgery at Miami Children Hospital from their work medical insurance. I have also undergone multiple operations and radiation therapy in an attempt to control this brain tumor or get rid of it altogether. There were small tumors that surgery were able to remove; however a major tumor remained and I now suffer from intractable seizures.  I was able to attend school and try to limit my seizures with about 4 different types of medications.

Though I struggled through school, I was able to graduate; however that also meant that I was no longer able to stay on my parents’ work insurance that covered my medical bills. I was never able to find employment because no one would take a chance on hiring me since I was always upfront about my medical condition.

Over the years I would earn money by selling my paintings. My parents, sisters, family or friends would also support me financially. I tried to save money, but travelling back and forth to doctors for yearly visits were costly. I lost hope that I could ever live a normal life without seizures. Presently, I still suffer from about 5-7 seizures monthly. A few years ago, my family decided to take me to the Mayo Clinic and a team of specialists concluded that I am a good candidate for epilepsy surgery after living with a brain tumor and epilepsy for many years.  They confirmed that I could live seizure free!  Can you imagine the life changing news I have waited for my entire life!

The Mayo Clinic advised that I would need two operations. The first operation would be a computer guided craniotomy to unroof the area of the tumor and scaring. Secondly, a series of electrode grids would be used to record my seizures in the hope of identifying a location of origins and hopefully a removal of the tumor. I would need to be awake to map functioning brain tissues.

I have been trying so hard since then to figure out how to raise money to help pay for the operations. Today, my parents are retired and there is no insurance. My family and friends can aid in some way, but I am appealing to your kindness and generosity to help in any way you can. If you can support my GoFundMe by making a donation and then sharing it with your network, I would greatly appreciate it. I know that money can be tight, but every dollar counts to contribute to my goal.

I am overjoyed about the possibility to remove my brain tumor. On behalf of my family and I, we appreciate the outpouring of love, prayers and support shown to me over the years and would like to say ‘Thank you’. I would also like to say ‘Thank you’ for taking the time to read my story and helping in any way you can.