Krystie's Pineal Cyst Brain Surgery

 I have a Pineal Cystic Brain Tumour that needs to be removed and I need your help to fundraise the money for surgery!!

But first. Let me introduce myself. I'm Krystie. I'm a 32 year old mum of 2 boys, step mum to another 3 amazing kidlets, and human mum to 2 cats and a dog. I love cooking, live music and being active. My amazing fiance Denny and I are planning to get married in the Spring of 2021. I graduated from Uni early last year and am finally working in a career I love as a Finance Officer for a large recruitment firm in the city. 
Together we have worked really hard to build a life we love and things were cruising along so nicely until in September last year things all of a sudden took a turn with my health. I started experiencing all kinds of nasty symptoms - the main ones being debilitating migraines, pressure headaches, chronic vertigo and dizziness, vision issues, extreme sensitivity to noise and light, sleep issues, tremors in my hands, and the list goes on. I went from being fine one day to it all just starting out of the blue and since it started it hasn't stopped!



After endless trips to doctors and specialists and being tested for just about everything they could think of, an MRI scan of my brain revealed the cause for all my troubles - I have a Pineal Cystic Brain Tumour.
The Cyst was 7mm when first found in December 18 and has now grown to 11.7mm as at April 19.
The cyst puts pressure on the tectal plate which has narrowed the cerebral aqueduct and reduces the flow of spinal fluid around the brain, resulting in intermittent hydrocephalus which causes the symptoms.

The past several months has been tedious! It has involved a lot of appointments with different doctors and specialists, with differing opinions about how best to treat my symptoms. I have been trialled on varying different medications but have not had any real success alleviating the symptoms (some of these medications have caused other new problems all of their own!!).
Due to the lack of research and knowledge surrounding symptomatic pineal cysts, I have been largely unsuccessful being able to find any real help here in Adelaide to treat these symptoms. I have repeatedly asked if surgery is an option, but keep getting told that they will not provide the procedure as it isn't the standard approach for treatment, and that the risks are too high. I have been told that if I can find some degree of relief with pharmaceutical medications then that is the best outcome I can hope for! I just cant accept that this is as good as its going to get for me, I am way too young to just lay down and put up with having debilitating symptoms like I have been for the rest of my life!!!

Feeling quite desperate and without a known way forward it was suggested to me to go and meet with renowned neurosurgeon Prof Charlie Teo, as he specialises in the removal of these types of cysts and tumours. 
After having a consultation with Prof Teo and him assessing my case, he has offered me surgery to remove the Cyst which should alleviate my symptoms and return me to my normal self! 



However, the surgery is not cheap!!! The cost of the surgery + incidentals after private health pay their part is approx $60,000.

So that is my aim. To raise $60,000 so that I can have the surgery to remove the Pineal Cyst. I need your help. I hate to ask for anything but my kids miss their fun energetic mum and my fiance misses his bubbly upbeat missus and without some help this surgery is going to be out of reach. I would be so grateful for your donation, no matter the amount. Every bit helps me reach my goal. Please share this as far and wide as you can, I need to have this surgery and get back to my old self and living my life pain and symptom free!



 Thank you so much!! xx

Ps...I have started a Facebook page - "Krystie and the Brain" - Please come and give it a like, then you can stay updated on things as they progress and other fundraising ventures as they occur. I would really appreciate the support.