Help Magic Sebastian

It started with a headache that wouldn't go away.  Starting in mid-May 2018, Sebastian was victim to an unrelenting migraine that left him completely incapacitated. When he finally went to a walk-in clinic, he was diagnosed with an inner ear infection - which explained the dizziness, nausea, vomiting, and severe headache. After taking the prescribed medications, however, he only got worse. Tuesday night, May 22, 2018, we noticed his right eye wasn't moving naturally. A short call to Ray (optometrist extraordinaire) brought us to the UCF Campus the next morning for an eye exam.  During the exam, it was found that the nerve endings behind Sebastian's eyes were being pushed forward, which was causing the limited range of motion in his right eye. Ray made an appointment for Sebastian to get a CT scan at Florida Radiology Imaging just a couple hours later. The CT scan showed a large mass in the center of Sebastian's brain and a build up of cerebro spinal fluid (CSF). Sebastian was rushed to the Florida Hospital Orlando Emergency Department and checked in right around 3:00pm that afternoon. It was May 23, 2018 at 7:00pm sharp, that Sebastian had his first brain surgery.  It was an emergency procedure to relieve the immense pressure in his brain caused by the large tumor; without the procedure, he would have fallen into a coma. Sebastian was given what is called an "EVD" - an External Ventricular Drain. Essentially it's a tube, sticking out of the top of his head, that allowed the built up cerebro spinal fluid (CSF) to drain from his brain into a plastic bag hung on a pole, next to his hospital bed.   Sebastian, and his family ("entourage" as Sebastian says), spent 10 days in the Neuro Intensive Care Unit. During this time on the 11th floor at Florida Hospital Orlando, Sebastian underwent three brain operations: the initial placement of the EVD; a biopsy of the tumor; and an Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy - in which the surgeon created a hole in the third ventricle of Sebastian's brain in order for the CSF to drain without assistance from the EVD.  Three additional days were spent in the Neuro Critical Care Unit, waiting for the pathology report. Waiting for the name of this cancer. Waiting for any answers. Sebastian's official diagnosis is a Grade IV Pineoblastoma.  The recommended treatment for this type of malignant brain tumor is to surgically remove as much as possible, followed by cranio spinal radiation, and finally chemo.  Fourth of July was spent celebrating Sebastian's successful recovery from the most invasive and extensive procedure thus far - the Image Guided Stereotactic Supracerebellar Infratentorial Approach and Resection of the Pineal Tumor (we don't have an acronym for that one). Dr. Melvin Field and the amazing surgical team at Florida Hospital Orlando were successful in removing 98% of the pineoblastoma in Sebastian's pineal gland.  As of writing this brief synopsis of Sebastian's journey, we take the next step. August 29, 2018 Sebastian starts his six and a half weeks, five days a week, radiation therapy. Following that, there is the chance he will go through chemo therapy.  This is only the beginning of Sebastian's journey. Over the past three months, we've visited many highly reputed neuro specialists. The kind of people you want in your corner. The very best there is. Unfortunately, that kind of specialization and quality of care does not come cheap. We've exhausted what little funds we had. This is when we turn to you, our loved ones, our families, our friends, acquaintances, and strangers. We turn to you in our time of need. Radiation is only just starting, and already the bills we've received are far outside the scope of what any 22-year-old can manage.  The funds we raise through this campaign will go towards the many doctors bills, medications, treatments, and other medical expenses.  The family asks that if you would like to contribute outside of this campaign, they will graciously accept Visa or Wawa Gift Cards to assist in their travel expenses. An hour and a half round trip, five days a week for almost seven weeks, is not an easy commute.  Above all else, we ask for your continued thoughts, prayers, and good vibrations. I'm Kristen Descheneaux, I'm a Florida native, and I'm raising money for my son. The funds will be used to pay medical debt, debt we've incurred over the time since diagnosis, and to ensure that when he's back to full health that Sebastian can live his best life. Any and all donations will be placed in an account to benefit Sebastian, which he'll have access too in order to pay any charges that come up.  Update: The most recent MRI scans came back and show that Sebastian has beat the Cancer! No residual tumor cells, no evidence of cancer, completely clean! We'd like to thank everyone who contributed and helped Sebastian in this incredible journey!