Danie's Pineal Gland Cyst Surgery
Donation protected
Hello World! How are you?! I hope your day is bright and beautiful!
My name is Danielle and I am 24 years young. I love to sing and make people laugh! I love to horseback ride, travel, and spend time with my amazing loved ones.
Recently I was diagonsed with a cyst in my brain. It is located in my Pineal Gland. An MRI shows that it is 9mm and growing in an inverted "L" shape, pressing on my right optical nerve. Needless to say, this cyst is seriously affecting my life...
You've probably never even heard of a Pineal Gland, let alone that cysts can form in them. I know I never heard of anything like this before, but since my diagnosis in May, I've learned a lot...
The Pineal Gland is a pinecone-shaped gland that is located deep in the brain. It is best known for producing the hormone melatonin which helps regulate our circadian clocks. It is intricately involved in regulating the endocrine system.
I'm told my cyst is benign, but -- growing. Because it is pressing on my right optical nerve, I experience black floaters in that eye and I'm extremely senstitive to light. This pressure causes on-going headaches, nausea and vertigo. The Pineal Gland is located just above the spinal cord, and this little cyst is also pressing on the tip of my spinal cord, causing contstant upper and lower back pain.
Since my Pineal Gland is compromised, it's not producing enough melatonin. In a nutshell, I have insomnia... I feel like an emotional wreck! And probably the most heartbreaking of all -- I am incredibly bothered by SOUND. As a singer, this is debilitating: I don't want to be around music, as sounds are very painful...
My symptoms have gotten progressivley worse over the past 7 months. I had to drop out of college and I'm unable to drive. If it weren't for my wonderful family, I don't know what I would do!
To make a long story short, after many discouraging doctors' visits and months of feeling discouraged, depressed, overwhelmed and just plain SICK, I have finally found a specialist who is willing to remove the cyst. After studying my MRI films and talking with me at length, he has concurred that the csyt is extremely problematic and that it's not a matter of IF I have the cyst removed, but WHEN. With the way the cyst is pressing on my optical nerve, he is concerned that if left alone and it continues to grow, I could loose my eyesight...
I'm told there is nothing I can do to minimize this cyst. It is, simply, never going away.
As with any medical procedure, this surgery comes with a price tag... Did you know that Brain Surgery is EXPENSIVE? Sigh.
Thank goodness my kind Father has good insurance, because that will pay for a huge portion of this surgery. But the out of pocket surgery costs to my family will be $35,000. I am consumed with guilt that this tiny little cyst in my brain is going to cost my family so much money to get rid of it...
I know that, compared to so many other unfortunate people, I am truly lucky and blessed. There are others who are so much worse off. I cherish the fact that I am loved and that I have a beautiful life, regardless of this cyst. My story is MY story, and I am fighting every day to make sure this cyst doesn't define my life.
I wish I had loads and buckets of money so I could pay for this surgery myself, and not have to burden my struggling family. But I don't. Not yet! When this cyst is gone, I promise I will chase after my dream to record the beautiful songs that are in my heart, and I will sing them with thankfulness to the world!
If you feel led, in your heart to help me and my family pay for my healing, I would be beyond grateful. BEYOND. I'll dedicate my first song to my love affair with you...❤️
My name is Danielle and I am 24 years young. I love to sing and make people laugh! I love to horseback ride, travel, and spend time with my amazing loved ones.
Recently I was diagonsed with a cyst in my brain. It is located in my Pineal Gland. An MRI shows that it is 9mm and growing in an inverted "L" shape, pressing on my right optical nerve. Needless to say, this cyst is seriously affecting my life...
You've probably never even heard of a Pineal Gland, let alone that cysts can form in them. I know I never heard of anything like this before, but since my diagnosis in May, I've learned a lot...
The Pineal Gland is a pinecone-shaped gland that is located deep in the brain. It is best known for producing the hormone melatonin which helps regulate our circadian clocks. It is intricately involved in regulating the endocrine system.
I'm told my cyst is benign, but -- growing. Because it is pressing on my right optical nerve, I experience black floaters in that eye and I'm extremely senstitive to light. This pressure causes on-going headaches, nausea and vertigo. The Pineal Gland is located just above the spinal cord, and this little cyst is also pressing on the tip of my spinal cord, causing contstant upper and lower back pain.
Since my Pineal Gland is compromised, it's not producing enough melatonin. In a nutshell, I have insomnia... I feel like an emotional wreck! And probably the most heartbreaking of all -- I am incredibly bothered by SOUND. As a singer, this is debilitating: I don't want to be around music, as sounds are very painful...
My symptoms have gotten progressivley worse over the past 7 months. I had to drop out of college and I'm unable to drive. If it weren't for my wonderful family, I don't know what I would do!
To make a long story short, after many discouraging doctors' visits and months of feeling discouraged, depressed, overwhelmed and just plain SICK, I have finally found a specialist who is willing to remove the cyst. After studying my MRI films and talking with me at length, he has concurred that the csyt is extremely problematic and that it's not a matter of IF I have the cyst removed, but WHEN. With the way the cyst is pressing on my optical nerve, he is concerned that if left alone and it continues to grow, I could loose my eyesight...
I'm told there is nothing I can do to minimize this cyst. It is, simply, never going away.
As with any medical procedure, this surgery comes with a price tag... Did you know that Brain Surgery is EXPENSIVE? Sigh.
Thank goodness my kind Father has good insurance, because that will pay for a huge portion of this surgery. But the out of pocket surgery costs to my family will be $35,000. I am consumed with guilt that this tiny little cyst in my brain is going to cost my family so much money to get rid of it...
I know that, compared to so many other unfortunate people, I am truly lucky and blessed. There are others who are so much worse off. I cherish the fact that I am loved and that I have a beautiful life, regardless of this cyst. My story is MY story, and I am fighting every day to make sure this cyst doesn't define my life.
I wish I had loads and buckets of money so I could pay for this surgery myself, and not have to burden my struggling family. But I don't. Not yet! When this cyst is gone, I promise I will chase after my dream to record the beautiful songs that are in my heart, and I will sing them with thankfulness to the world!
If you feel led, in your heart to help me and my family pay for my healing, I would be beyond grateful. BEYOND. I'll dedicate my first song to my love affair with you...❤️
Organizer
Danielle Leuck
Organizer
Anderson, CA
