Hi everyone it is Kyle here. If you know me well you will know that I am not one to ask anyone for anything, and will always be one to give back to anyone. This time I am actually asking for help.

Jessie our youngest who is 6 was recently diagnosed with Chiari Malformation, this is a brain malformation. Her brain is has grown too big, and is growing into her spinal cord. This pressure on her spinal cord is sever and is causing her immense pain, blurred vision, hearing problems, and causes her to choke. I have even had to do the Heimlich maneuver on her because she choked on food. 

We had a recent appointment with her surgeon for him to review her MRI and he said with her symptoms she 100% needs surgery and said the surgery would be in the next few months. This would have given us time to prepare and plan. 

But on December 3rd the surgeon called back and said he would like to proceed with her surgery urgently as her brain is compressing on her spinal cord, causing spinal fluid to be trapped. Jessie's surgery is booked for Tuesday December 10th. Her surgery will be to decompress her brain and will be removing apart of her bone to have room for her brain.

Jessie's dad, Dan, needs to be here for her surgery and for her recovery. With this being so unexpected we all have not had the opportunity to save or prepare for this situation, and with Christmas around the corner makes this even more a struggle. 

Jessie will be hospitalized for 5 days post surgery and will be need extra care at home when she is recovering. We do not have family support here in Calgary, and with three other kids at home who will be under a lot of stress from their little sister going through this tough surgery I will need help. Who better not to be here than their own dad.

Unfortunately Dan does not have any paid time off from his job in England, even in a situation like this, and is already in a place of hardship in his life. 

If you do not know much about Dan then let me tell you a bit about  the man he is. He is selfless when it comes to his children and loves them more than words. He would do anything for them to see them happy, grow, and thrive in this world. I know this for a fact, because Dan made the hardest choice and ultimate sacrifice in his life to sign papers for Emily and I to move the kids here to Canada so they could have better opportunities for their health, education, and well being. He did this knowing very well we would be thousands of miles apart, and 7 hours time difference away by phone. 

Dan isn't just the kids' dad. He is my friend, he is my family, and I know him well enough that this would kill him to not be here for Jessie in one of her most scariest and hardest times in her life. So I want to make sure he is here for her, so we can all be here for her. 

So, any small contribution will mean the world to us all and go directly to Dan's expenses from his flight, to food, to lost wages as we need to get him here by Monday, December 9th.

What we pledge back to you is this: We will be raising the amount that is donated as a whole over the 2020 year and be donating that amount back to the Brain Foundation. The Brain Foundation is close to all of our hearts because of the journey through Jace and Jessie's Epilepsy. 

Your contribution can help us now, and save many lives later. 

Thank you from our entire family!

Kyle Kaplanis