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"Goodbye, Curtis!"
Hi. I’m Chris Detmer (Karyn’s brother), and this is Michelle Vanallsburg (Karyn’s friend). We’re here to tell you a bit about a serious medical issue Karyn is struggling with.
Curtis is the nickname for a benign, colloid cyst that has been living in Karyn’s brain for many years. It’s a very rare kind of cyst, (only 1% of brain tumors are colloid cysts), very disruptive, and potentially deadly. Over the past few years, it has grown and is interfering with Karyn’s quality of life. She suffers daily from migraine headaches, dizziness, blurred vision, vertigo, and memory problems. The cyst can also block the cerebrospinal fluid pathway, which could lead to sudden death.
The only way to get Curtis to leave is with surgery. Karyn and her husband, Chris Babbitt, have been researching, calling, discussing, and planning for this surgery for over a year. They will be traveling to New York City to have the most qualified surgeon in the U.S. - Dr. Mark Souweidane - perform this life-saving procedure. He is the specialist who developed the technique (see the article and video below). The alternative is an increasingly painful life, both physically, mentally and emotionally, with the risk of fatal consequences.
From Michelle: We have been like family since we were teenagers. With humor, we have gotten through life's ups and downs together. Karyn has always been there for me, as well as so many loved ones. Now is the time for others to be there for her. She is the broccoli to my cheese. If you know Karyn, broccoli is everything, lol!
From Chris: Karyn is a wonderful human being, artist, green thumb, wife and mother. She’s incredibly creative, adaptable, funny, and has a way of turning any obstacle into something good. She cares about everyone she meets. In addition to taking care of her two young boys she is also a caregiver for our aging mother, who is disabled after a major stroke 3 years ago. Karyn is needed by others often, but this time she needs us.
So this is where you come in, dear reader. While insurance will handle some of the bigger medical costs, they are paying out of pocket for specialist appointments, scans, travel, lodging, childcare, food, supplies, and everything else. And the recovery time from the surgery could last several months. Any amount you can give to help offset their costs will be greatly appreciated.
If you’ve read this far, thank you for taking the time to do so. Karyn is a huge part of our lives and the lives of many others. We want to help her live a long and full life.
The following links and videos may help give more insight into what a colloid cyst is, and how others have lived with it.
An article about Dr. Souweidane and a study of colloid cysts by age:
A video about Dr. Souweidane’s surgery technique:
This video shares the story of a woman who had similar surgery for a colloid cyst by a different doctor, also one of the tops in the country: https://www.wistv.com/2019/05/22/actually-it-is-brain-surgery-2/
A bit more about Karyn’s journey:
Karyn’s story starts about 4 years ago when she went to her doctor for tinnitus in her left ear, and pressure headaches. She thought she had a very bad sinus infection that wouldn't go away with antibiotics. Finally, her doctor ordered a CT scan, but Karyn wasn’t able to go in because the pandemic had just started. She ignored the symptoms as best she could. In Oct 2020 her mother had a stroke and then Karyn and her husband Chris took her into their own home to care for her. For nearly a year Karyn took care of her mother and her two boys during the 1st year of the pandemic. She was in survival mode, for everyone. Then in November of 2021, she knew something was very wrong and got her CT scan. Her radiologist came back to the waiting room and handed her a handwritten note that said 8 X10 Colloid Cyst. She wasn’t sure what that meant but everything changed at that moment. For the next 6 months, she thought she was going to drop dead from spinal fluid obstruction. Karyn found a Facebook group called “Colloid Cyst Survivors”, (a group of people from around the world that had survived the rare tumor and its removal) and then found a doctor in NYC that was experienced with this 3-in-a-million cyst. (1% of brain tumors)
In June 2022, Karyn and Chris had a virtual meeting with Dr. Souweidane, and he reassured them it was unlikely to become dislodged because of its intraseptal positioning. He recommended surgery soon. Karyn decided to get her youngest son through preschool, be available to both of her boys and her mother and postpone surgery a year. Her headaches, blurry vision, tinnitus, and fatigue have made her miserable. It has been an incredibly scary year 1/2. She is now ready to get the tumor out, with the skilled hands and knowledge of Dr. Mark Souweidane. It is time.
