Team Charlie Fund
We are raising money to help Scott and Shelby Brimley while their two-month-old baby Charlie is undergoing cancer treatment. The money will go towards their medical bills, commuting costs, and anything else they might need while Charlie is in treatment. These funds will help Scott and Shelby to financially survive this ordeal, allow Scott to study for the Step exam, help Shelby to care for Charlie, and hopefully provide them some comfort while their baby receives chemotherapy. Please join Team Charlie and donate!
On February 4th, Scott and Shelby noticed that their usually squirmy two-month-old baby Charlie had stopped moving his legs. Their pediatrician recommended he see a neurologist, who decided to do an MRI to rule out a tumor. Their worst fears were realized when the MRI showed a tumor growing in Charlie’s spinal cord.
Two days later, a neurosurgeon removed the tumor from Charlie's spine, which sadly was confirmed to be cancerous.
Though the tumor is out, it did damage the spinal cord. One leg is moving a small amount, but the other doesn’t have much movement. They have seen some toe movement in both feet, but only slight. The spine heals very slowly, if at all, so besides fighting cancer, Charlie may also have difficulty walking. They are faced with a long, slow recovery filled with physical therapy.
There are many unknowns and complications in this already difficult situation. We don't yet know what Charlie’s treatment will look like, though we do know it will involve chemotherapy for up to a year. Scott is currently in medical school at Tulane University, and living in New Orleans puts them thousands of miles from either of their families. Scott is studying for the Step exam, which will determine the rest of his medical career. Shelby will need to quit her teaching job to take care of Charlie full time, so they will lose the insurance provided by that job. What we know is that treatment will be time intensive, emotionally exhausting, and expensive.
Scott and Shelby have expressed their immense gratitude to everyone who has already helped them in any way. Please donate whatever you can to help Charlie get the care he needs. Thank you all for your continued support.
You can read more of their story, and stay updated on Charlie’s progress, on their blog.
Additional information requested by GoFundMe:
Who I am: Derek Brimley
Where I'm from: Sandy, UT
My relationship to the parties I'm raising funds for: Brother
How the funds will be used: Medical expenses, including the surgery that already took place, as well as any additional needed surgeries. Physical therapy costs for the next year or so. Hospital stays, transportation, insurance premiums and deductibles, and other expenses that are related to cancer treatment.
How I plan to send the funds to the parties I'm raising money for: I will withdraw the funds into an account until my brother and sister-in-law are ready to receive the funds, at which time I'll do a bank transfer to send them all the raised money.
