Matt's Medical Fund for San Fran.

My journey started on December 1st...


I was preparing for finals like any other college student by staying up late at night reading through my organic chemistry and calculus text books at 3:00 in the morning when I had gone downstairs to get a snack. As I went about getting everything ready thats when it hit me. . . I had my first seizure. I can vividly remember the entire experience like a nightmare that I couldn't tell was real or not. My heart rate was around 214 and I had to receive three separate doses of adenosine to cardiovert my heart back to a stable rate and rhythm and received a CT scan to rule out brain bleed.


What they found was a small density on the scan and I was told that I should consult a neurologist. After consulting with the neurologist it was recommended to get an MRI and that was when we found the mass, a glioma, located in the primary motor cortex of my brain. Inoperable. This was what I was told. I was also told that even if we did operate, there is a high chance I would suffer permanent damage that would render me unable to to fully use my right hand to full capacity. Which when you are going for the career path of a neurosurgeon is even more distressing than normal. 

To be sure of their assertions I had a fMRI done to map the area of my brain that the tumor is located in which only further confirmed that the area that it is located in is extremely dangerous and risky to move in. But there was a glimmer of light toward the end of this tunnel.  After three separate consults to three other neurosurgeons I was finally referred to Dr. Berger in San Francisco who is among the most elite neurosurgeons in the country as well as the pioneer behind brain mapping for neurosurgery. His work has been groundbreaking in the field so that my type of brain tumor is no longer considered a death sentence but rather a strong chance for survival and a fully functional life.


And so, it is with this that I hope to go to San Francisco  and have surgery. Every donation helps and the emotional support from everyone is truly invaluable.