Help Justin and his family through his brain tumor treatment

This is Justin (Jaehyung) Kim. This is written by his wife, Christin Kim. Justin was diagnosed with a brain tumor back in 2023. At the time, we were told that due to the deep location of his tumor and risks associated with resection, it would be best to monitor with serial head MRIs to assess for growth and changes. Despite the diagnosis, we were blessed with a son and tried to live our lives like any ordinary family.

However, this April in 2025, we were faced with the news that the brain tumor had started growing and changing in shape. At the time, we had to figure out how we could best treat his condition. We were scared of the risks associated with a growing brain tumor and also the risks associated with brain surgery that would likely result in some deficit, not to mention the financial burden of brain surgery and treatment to follow.

Repeat MRI of the head in July of 2025 showed even more growth since April, and we knew surgery was inevitable. On August 20th, Justin had surgery; a craniotomy (removal of the skull bone flap) was performed to resect as much of the tumor as possible with minimal damage to the rest of the brain. The resected tumor was sent off for biopsy. The biopsy came back as Grade 2 IDH-mutant Glioma. Justin is now left with right-sided visual loss/deficit due to the optic nerve damage during surgery. He is planned for 5 weeks of radiation therapy followed by 8 rounds of chemotherapy to treat the remaining glioma. The estimated total duration of treatment is 10 months. After radiation and chemotherapy, if the tumor remains or starts to grow back, he will require a specialty drug called VORANIGO (vorasidenib), which costs $40,000 a month.

We are all praying and hoping the rest of his brain tumor treatment goes smoothly and is tolerated by Justin. During treatment, Justin is unable to work, and the family will be supported solely by his wife, Christin. Anything would help our family during this rough time: prayers, thoughts, donations.