My name is Jessica, and I’m raising funds for my daughter’s dad, Robert, who is facing a serious and urgent medical crisis. Robert was born with a rare birth defect that affected the growth of his skull. As a child, he underwent major reconstructive surgery, which allowed him to survive and live a normal life for many years. For three decades, he has carried the materials from that surgery, but now those materials are breaking down, and his skull is beginning to fall apart.

This degradation is causing Robert intense physical pain, neurological complications, and a persistent infection that will not resolve on its own. He urgently needs reconstructive skull surgery to remove the failing materials and prevent further damage. Unfortunately, we are struggling to find a surgeon willing to take on such a complex case. On top of that, Medicaid is attempting to classify the procedure as “cosmetic” instead of medically necessary, which means they are refusing to cover it. This is not cosmetic. This is not optional. His condition is worsening, and without surgical intervention, the risks to his health continue to grow. We are fighting on multiple fronts — for his health, for approval of care, and to find a specialist who will help him. Time is not on our side. The infection and neurological symptoms are escalating, and every day without treatment increases the danger.

We are asking for your help to cover surgical consultations, specialist evaluations, pre-operative imaging and testing, the reconstructive surgery itself, and post-operative care and recovery expenses. Any contribution, no matter the amount, helps move him closer to the care he desperately needs. If you cannot donate, please consider sharing this campaign to help us reach someone who can. Robert is a father who wants to be present and healthy for his daughter. Right now, he needs our community to stand beside him. Thank you for your support, prayers, and shares.

Additional Details

What is Craniosynostosis?

Craniosynostosis is a rare birth defect that affects the formation of the skull. Normally, a baby is born with a "soft spot" on the top of their head, which allows the plates of the skull to overlap slightly during childbirth and provides room for the brain to grow during the first few years of life. Babies born with craniosynostosis have two or more of these plates fused together.

In order to allow for normal brain growth, children born with this condition must undergo extensive surgery shortly after birth to separate the fused skull plates, followed by another surgery around age five to reconstruct the skull.

Robert’s reconstructive surgery was considered a success, and his skull should have grown normally from that point forward. However, over the past 30 years, the pieces of plastic used to rebuild his skull have begun to shift and come apart.

About two years ago, a piece of surgical wire began to poke through the skin at the top of his head. As a result, he now has a wound on the top of his head that will not heal. It has become infected and is causing such intense headaches and neurological complications that he often has trouble getting out of bed.

His motor function and short-term memory have begun to decline, and the prolonged infection on his head has started to damage his kidneys. He has been prescribed round after round of antibiotics, but without further medical intervention, his health will only continue to decline.