Hello, we are Tony & Gina. We are reaching out to you on behalf of our son, Noah Bryce, who will be undergoing a spinal fusion sooner than we expected.

Some of you who know Noah are aware that his life has been filled with challenges from the very start. He was born with a rare brain condition called Lissencephaly (smooth brain), which affects his development both cognitively and physically and presents many obstacles. One of his most difficult challenges on a daily basis is his struggle with seizures (Lennox-Gastaut). We try to manage daily with medications and recently had a Vagus Nerve Stimulator (VNS) chip implanted last September to help manage his seizures.

Noah has always been a character; your first impression of him would be that he always has a big smile. He wants to be an active 13-year-old, but instead, he's as active as his body allows him to be. He gets excited with the simplest things in life, and we try to calm him to avoid triggering a seizure. Like any typical teen, he loves his phone, tablet, and Switch. He also loves monster trucks, remote control cars, and being in band class where he can bang on his drum. He loves going to school, being around his siblings, and having family gatherings.

We recently learned that Noah's back brace, which once helped to correct the curve in his spine, is no longer effective. Unfortunately, the curve has worsened, and now the only option to avoid further complications is for him to undergo a spinal fusion.

Noah's spinal fusion is critical to his health but comes with a significant financial price. While insurance will cover part of the cost, there are still a lot of out-of-pocket expenses we need help with, so we are fundraising to help with what our insurance doesn't cover during surgery, hospitalization, recovery, and other medical expenses that will come with the process.

We understand that everyone has their own struggles, and we truly appreciate any help we receive. Whether it's a donation or simply sharing Noah's story with your family and friends, every bit of support makes a difference.

With great gratitude,

Tony & Gina Gumataotao