Help Us Support Ruwan’s Fight Against a Rare Medical Emergency

Dear friends, family, and compassionate supporters,

We are reaching out to you with heavy hearts and hopeful spirits. Our beloved Ruwan Gunawansa—fiancé, son, and a deeply cherished member of our family—has been thrust into a battle we could have never prepared for.

For the past two years, Ruwan has struggled to find answers to debilitating health issues such as weakness in the legs, continuous headaches and spasms, to intractable nausea and vomiting. Recently, his condition took a critical turn. In the ER, Ruwan had to have an EVD placed into his brain to drain CSF fluid that has put immense pressure on his brain. He was then life-flighted from Grand Strand Medical Hospital to MUSC. MUSC is about 2.5 hours away from home for us. This has uprooted us away from our animals and work. This was an unimaginable moment for all of us, as Ruwan’s life was in immediate danger.

This condition as we’ve learned, is so rare that there are only three known cases in medical literature that have been documented. Because of its uniqueness, the surgeon had no research or precedent to rely on while planning Ruwan’s treatment. Despite these extraordinary challenges, she performed a courageous surgery to remove as much of the tumor as possible. While she successfully removed 90% of it, the tumor’s delicate location and rarity made a full removal impossible. 10% still remains and there's a long road to recovery ahead of Ruwan. He has been trying to regain strength in the right leg, and function of bowel/bladder now that the surgery is complete.

Why We Need Your Help

Ruwan’s journey is far from over. He faces months of recovery, rehabilitation, and uncertainty. With such an uncharted condition, every step forward requires exceptional care and continued medical attention. Even with insurance, the costs of his treatment over the past two years have surpassed $50,000, leaving us facing a daunting financial burden.

These costs include:

Emergency life-flight transport to MUSC.

A highly complex neurosurgery with unparalleled risks.

Ongoing post-operative care, physical therapy, and rehabilitation to help Ruwan regain the ability to walk.

Adding to these challenges, Ruwan has been unable to work, putting even greater strain on him and our family as we navigate this journey together.

Our Goal

We are raising funds to help cover Ruwan’s mounting medical bills and essential living expenses while he recovers. Every donation will go directly toward:

Hospital and surgical costs.

Rehabilitation and physical therapy expenses.

Living expenses to help support Ruwan while he is unable to work.

How You Can Help

Ruwan is one of the strongest, most resilient people we know, and his determination to recover inspires us every day. But this is a battle that cannot be won alone. We are asking for your support—whether it’s through a donation, sharing his story, or keeping him in your prayers.

Every contribution, no matter how small, will help lighten this burden and allow Ruwan to focus on what matters most: his recovery. Your kindness and generosity will give him a fighting chance to overcome this rare and devastating condition.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for standing with us during this unimaginable time. Together, we can help Ruwan reclaim the life he has worked so hard to build.

With gratitude and hope,

Mehkenzie Killion (Ruwan's Fiancé) & Chandrika Jayatunga (Ruwan’s Mother)