Hey there! My name is Angela Kilburn, and I’m fundraising for my dear friend Maddie—a truly incredible woman, wife, and mother.

Over the past year, our group of friends has watched Maddie and her husband, Dean, go through unimaginable challenges. Maddie has Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) with Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension (IIH), a rare condition that has caused her to suffer from intractable headaches, vision problems, and dangerously high cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pressure.

Recently, things have taken a frightening turn. Maddie experienced a seizure last week—something that her young son, Nicky, witnessed. It was incredibly traumatic for him and for the whole family. This was not an isolated incident. Maddie has had to undergo multiple lumbar punctures to relieve the pressure caused by excess CSF fluid, but these are only temporary fixes. What she truly needs is brain surgery—a shunt—to manage the pressure and prevent further damage.

Right now, Maddie is stuck in limbo, waiting to find a surgeon who will take her insurance (UnitedHealthcare). Time is not on her side, unfortunately, either is her health insurance.

Maddie recently relocated to New Mexico with her parents and siblings in hopes of building a support system and getting the care she needs. She is also caring for her son, Nicky, who is autistic and requires consistent, loving attention and care. Her husband, Dean, is a part-time stay-at-home dad who selflessly dedicates his days to taking care of both Maddie and their son, as well as cleaning homes for some income.

This amazing family is doing everything they can—but they need help. Medical costs, travel, housing, and day-to-day expenses are mounting while Maddie continues to search for a surgeon who can give her the chance at a healthier, more stable life. Maddie has wonderful parents who have already contributed largely, but they also have small children and a home to take care of themselves.

Please consider donating to help ease the financial burden on this wonderful family and support Maddie in getting the surgery she needs. Every dollar brings us one step closer to giving Maddie relief from the constant pain and the opportunity to be present and well for her son and husband ♥️

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this! Please consider donating to help Maddie and her sweet family. I know times are really tough right now for almost everyone, so if you cannot donate financially, please consider donating by sharing this GoFundMe.

With love,

Angela Kilburn