Please help Brendan get the surgery he needs!

Hi! I'm Rachel, Brendan's mom. It is not easy for me to do this or ask for anything like this, but I am also at my wit's end. Currently, we don't have health insurance because I was laid off from my job at the end of May.

Brendan has been diagnosed with an osteochondroma, which is a benign bony tumor. That tumor is in his left knee and it's causing him a lot of pain. He's unable to walk around school, much less play hockey, the sport that he lives and breathes. Since he's in 9th grade, missing this much school is going to put him way behind.

Because this surgery is considered "elective" and I don't have health insurance, hospitals are not willing to work with us on a payment plan. Instead, they want thousands of dollars upfront that I don't have right now. I also can't keep jumping around to different surgeons and different hospitals when he needs to be back in school and, like, actually living his life.

Your donation would go directly toward helping him get the surgery he needs so that he can get back to being an active, happy 14-year-old. It's only a 2-week recovery time and after that, he'd be able to resume normal activities! His high school JV team is supposed to play in a game at Amalie Arena this season and he wants to be able to play SO badly. It kills me to see him so frustrated and in so much pain, knowing that I am basically powerless to help him.

If you're not able to donate right now, I totally understand. I'm in that same boat myself after being unemployed all summer. But sharing this with other groups would be such a huge help, too! Thank you.