My name is Kris. I'm starting this fundraiser in hopes to be able to help with some of the expenses related to my throat tumor surgery coming up this summer. I hope to use the cost to cover my medical bills not covered by insurance as well as missed work as I don't have much sick time from having just started a new staff position that offers it.

I've had this issue for over 2 years now, as it was initially found in an emergency room after my throat swole up for no reason (or so I thought at the time) and caused me to nearly suffocate. They found the initial tumor and did ultrasound, MRI, and biopsy and found it to benign and that I would have to have it monitored every 6 months. As I didn't have insurance, I couldn't afford to. So as I just got my new staff position this last December that offers health insurance, I went back to have it imaged again and biopsied again to find it's grown 2.5x in the 2 years (about the size of a gumball) but is still benign. Because it's causing issues with my breathing it's going to be removed.

I'm a college student working on my bachelors degree, my senior year, and work in planetary science at the school I attend. I'm hoping to have this done over the summer so it doesn't affect my final semesters and I can graduate "on time". I'm a non-traditional student who went back to school at 29 to be the first person in my family to get a degree. Everything has been through loans and some grants, and it's taken significantly longer because I also work. I turn 36 this year, and next spring will be the year I hopefully make my family proud, but with this surgery I'll have a much better time being able to breathe properly walking across that stage to get my diploma. Anything is appreciated. Thanks for reading!