Help Corey Beat Brain Cancer
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Just meeting Corey once guarantees you a friend for life. Corey has spent his career in the service industry and, if you have ever had the privilege of meeting him, you know why it's the perfect fit for him. He loves to serve and take care of people. He makes your day better by having spent just a few moments with him. Being able to do what he loves has provided a beautiful life for his wife and daughter. Working without complaint and allowing his wife to focus on her dream of attending medical school.
On June 21, 2020 Corey’s daughter, Ashlyn, turned 13 but instead of being able to celebrate and spoil her, Corey was in the Neuro ICU at UT Medical Center receiving the news that he had a large tumor growing in his brain. Because of the location of the tumor, he would require surgery at a hospital that specialized in brain tumors like his. On June 30, Corey and his wife, Kristyn traveled 13 hours from home to Rochester, MN to the Mayo Clinic to meet with his neurosurgeon and oncologist. Surgery was scheduled for July 14 with radiation and chemo expected to begin shortly after.
During surgery, Corey suffered a stroke that left him without the ability to speak or move his right side. After 3 days of recovery in the hospital, he was moved to inpatient rehab to begin physical and speech therapy. Over the course of a month, Corey learned how to sit again, then stand, and eventually walk with the help of his therapists. He speech also slowly started to return. First it was “hey,” then the names of his family and friends, and then sentences about his day.
After a month of inpatient rehab, Corey was strong enough to be discharged and start his chemotherapy and radiation. He has continued to go to physical therapy and speech therapy three times per week. He is now able to walk with a cane and has started getting movement in his right arm. He is halfway through chemo and radiation and is looking forward to being able to return to Tennessee at the beginning of October.
Corey has never refused to do what his therapists ask of him and often asks for one more rep. He has always been the hardest worker in the room and that has not changed despite everything he has been through these past few months.
Corey was uninsured at his initial diagnosis which means he has several large bills from the Emergency Department visit. Thankfully he now has insurance that is covering a lot of his remaining medical care. However, the cost of the hotel in Minnesota for three months, his wheelchair, and other every day expenses are starting to add up quickly. The goal of this GoFundMe is to relieve some of the financial worry for Corey and his family so he can continue to focus on his treatments and recovery.
On June 21, 2020 Corey’s daughter, Ashlyn, turned 13 but instead of being able to celebrate and spoil her, Corey was in the Neuro ICU at UT Medical Center receiving the news that he had a large tumor growing in his brain. Because of the location of the tumor, he would require surgery at a hospital that specialized in brain tumors like his. On June 30, Corey and his wife, Kristyn traveled 13 hours from home to Rochester, MN to the Mayo Clinic to meet with his neurosurgeon and oncologist. Surgery was scheduled for July 14 with radiation and chemo expected to begin shortly after.
During surgery, Corey suffered a stroke that left him without the ability to speak or move his right side. After 3 days of recovery in the hospital, he was moved to inpatient rehab to begin physical and speech therapy. Over the course of a month, Corey learned how to sit again, then stand, and eventually walk with the help of his therapists. He speech also slowly started to return. First it was “hey,” then the names of his family and friends, and then sentences about his day.
After a month of inpatient rehab, Corey was strong enough to be discharged and start his chemotherapy and radiation. He has continued to go to physical therapy and speech therapy three times per week. He is now able to walk with a cane and has started getting movement in his right arm. He is halfway through chemo and radiation and is looking forward to being able to return to Tennessee at the beginning of October.
Corey has never refused to do what his therapists ask of him and often asks for one more rep. He has always been the hardest worker in the room and that has not changed despite everything he has been through these past few months.
Corey was uninsured at his initial diagnosis which means he has several large bills from the Emergency Department visit. Thankfully he now has insurance that is covering a lot of his remaining medical care. However, the cost of the hotel in Minnesota for three months, his wheelchair, and other every day expenses are starting to add up quickly. The goal of this GoFundMe is to relieve some of the financial worry for Corey and his family so he can continue to focus on his treatments and recovery.
Organizer and beneficiary
Barbara Bradley
Organizer
Knoxville, TN
Kristyn Burnette
Beneficiary