Craig has been fighting for his life for 18 years. After surviving multiple brain surgeries, radiation, chemotherapy, seizures, and permanent neurological damage from a rare brain cancer, he is now facing one of the most frightening moments yet—not because he stopped fighting, but because his body is finally giving out.
Craig is currently hospitalized after temporarily losing the use of his legs, severe tremors, and he can no longer safely live alone. With mounting medical costs, rapidly declining health, and a fast-approaching housing deadline, Craig urgently needs help to stay safe, housed, and alive.
Craig Plains Story:
In October of 2007, our lives changed forever.
Craig wasn’t feeling well at work and called home saying he was being sent home because his face was drooping and coworkers joked that he was “winking at everyone.” That evening, he arrived at a family birthday dinner, and our mom immediately recognized something was seriously wrong. She rushed him to the ER within the critical golden hour of stroke symptoms.
A CT scan showed no stroke, but doctors said they “might have seen something.” He was kept overnight and discharged the next day, told it was nothing. Before we even made it home, we received a phone call that would alter our lives forever:
Craig had a mass on his brain and needed to see a specialist immediately.
A Devastating Diagnosis
After months of misdiagnoses, multiple doctors, scans, and worsening symptoms, Craig suffered seizures—one of them while driving with our mom and sister in the car. He knew something was terribly wrong.
In May 2008, Craig was officially diagnosed with Oligodendroglioma, a rare and incurable form of brain cancer. He was told he had a maximum of five years to live.
He was just beginning his adult life.
Years of Relentless Treatment
From 2007 through 2015, Craig endured unimaginable medical trauma:
- Radiation therapy (6 days a week for 6 weeks)
- Oral chemotherapy (Temodar) that depleted his life savings
- First craniotomy in 2008 to remove the tumor
- Continued seizures causing:
- Memory loss
- Brain fog
- Facial paralysis (which remains to this day)
- Physical and cognitive changes
Second recurrence and brain surgery in 2013
- Additional oral and IV chemotherapy for nearly 9 months
- Multiple costly medications, scans, and specialist visits—mostly paid out of pocket
By 2015, after exhausting nearly all treatment options, Craig was evaluated at the Cancer Treatment Centers of America in Zion, Illinois, where he was told there was nothing more they could do.
Lasting Damage and Decline
The years of treatment took a permanent toll:
- Heart complications and tachycardia from chemotherapy
- Progressive neurological decline
- Seizures continuing through the years
- Loss of physical strength and stamina
- Forced career changes
- Loss of sports, independence, and the life he once knew
From 2020 onward, Craig’s health began declining again. Despite worsening symptoms—fatigue, weight loss, weakness, and illness—doctors relied solely on MRIs and repeatedly told him nothing was wrong.
They were wrong.
A Medical Crisis and Rapid Decline (2024–2026)
In late 2024, while visiting family for a graduation, it became clear Craig was no longer himself. On the drive back to Wisconsin, he became so sick and in so much pain that family had to meet him and bring him home.
The very next day, Craig was taken by ambulance and underwent emergency gallbladder surgery. He never recovered.
He returned to the hospital again with fever, vomiting, and severe pain—and was found to have a serious post-surgical infection.
Since then:
- Craig has lost over 70 pounds
- He struggles to walk
- He cannot eat or sleep properly
- He experiences severe tremors and loss of leg function
- He has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s syndrome or deteriorating brain matter related to cancer and treatment
On January 17, 2026, Craig was rushed to the hospital again after losing the use of his legs and experiencing uncontrollable tremors. He is currently hospitalized.
Still Fighting—But Needs Help Now
Despite everything, Craig still works full-time and lives alone. He does this out of necessity—not because it is safe.
He also has a seizure-alert dog, trained to detect seizures and alert help. This dog has saved Craig’s life multiple times.
Now, Craig faces yet another impossible challenge:
- He can no longer safely live alone
- He must find housing by February 28
- Any housing must allow his medical service dog
- Medical bills, medications, travel, and basic living costs are overwhelming
How Your Support Helps
- Medical expenses not covered by insurance
- Medications and ongoing treatments
- Safe housing that accommodates his medical needs and service dog
- Transportation to and from medical appointments
- Basic living expenses during this critical time
Craig has spent 18 years fighting to stay alive, enduring surgeries, radiation, chemo, seizures, and irreversible damage—far beyond the five years he was given.
Now he needs help to live safely and with dignity.
Any donation, share, or message of support means more than we can express. Thank you for taking the time to read Craig’s story and for standing with him during the hardest chapter of his life.
Organizer
