Support Devin's Recovery !

Hello All, Devin Donnelly here. I’m a Landscaper and Musician from Shepherdstown WV. Three months ago in July 2024 amidst the hottest summer of landscaping I’ve ever experienced, I began to get debilitating headaches daily. I have no history of migraines or headaches outside of dehydration, and increased water intake and electrolyte enhancements did not help. While not financially able to just stop working, I had been attempting to treat the headaches with OTC pain meds, a visit to urgent care and alternative medicines (massage, bodywork, chiropractors) with no relief.

The morning after my second chiropractic visit, I collapsed going upstairs at home. An immediate visit to the ER revealed that I had a “large mass” on the back of my Occipital Lobe (the brain section that controls vision). The WVU hospital in Martinsburg WV immediately forwarded my care to INOVA in Fairfax VA, fortunately for me a first-class facility in neuroscience. I’m incredibly blessed to have so many great nurses and doctors working on my care, but due to lack of insurance I’m not able to leave the hospital during my wait for surgery (10 days). The costs are adding up exponentially, and the diagnosis of my tumor is still uncertain until surgery and pathology. I may need radiation, keeping me out of work for up to 10 weeks after surgery. BIG LOVE AND THANKS to those who have already donated, your generosity and care is doing so much to help me in this trying time XOXO Devin

UPDATE:

Hey everyone! Devin here. I’m out of surgery and healing quickly. I’ve got a cool haircut and double vision, but feeling strong and confident. Incredibly thankful for all your kind words, uplifting personal success stories and life-changing donations. Some other good news, it sounds like I may be discharged from the hospital tomorrow! BIG shoutout to the staff here at Inova Fairfax, they are the most kind and caring people. I’ve been here 8 days now and their smiles and humor are helping me make the best of a terrible situation. Lastly, Dr ZIU “zoo” saved my life y’all. Please join me in lifting him up with great thanks. Bless all you medical workers of the world, I don’t know how you do it… but the work you do has got to be the most important in the world. My appreciation for you is immense.

UPDATE!

Hello Everyone! Devin here, with an update on what has been a wild and crazy month, made exponentially more tolerable through your generosity. I thank you.

It’s been 3 1/2 weeks since I first went to the ER, and 2 1/2 since my surgery. The back of my head is healing quickly, and staple free. I’m still awaiting pathology on the tumor that was removed, as it was referred out from Virginia to WVU Morgantown, due to my being uninsured. It will probably be the week of October 20th before I hear the results. The surgeon has given me hypotheticals for the extremes of possible treatments going forward; maybe I’ll need chemo and radiation, or just radiation, or possibly no treatment would be needed. I may have to live in Morgantown WV, 3+ hours away from my home to receive treatment over six weeks time. So really no clarity as to what we’re looking at, or what my future holds… other than it being either a glioma (glioblastoma) or an ependymoma. As I understand it, the possibility of it being benign is still on the table, so that gives me hope. But the doctors are using the word “cancer” now, so each new diagnosis carries a new weight of reality with it.

I’ve been in the process of moving out of my previous living situation in order to heal as best as possible, although that process has been both mentally and physically taxing. I’m now in a much better spot in the country outside Shepherdstown WV, under the watchful eye of my best friend. There isn’t a better place I could be at this time, and I’m so grateful for the love and compassion of my friends and family, as well as all of you. The roller coaster continues, but I’m still feeling strong and ready to fight regardless of the diagnosis! You all give me hope ❤️

Sincerely,

Devin A.D.