Brain Tumor Battle for Brian & Kelly Powell

Update 9/15 - Friends and Family, we have gotten Brian past step 1 of his brain tumor battle - surgery, but we still have to get him and Kelly through step 2 - recovery and follow-up. Your prayers have been amazing, delivered, heard, and are still needed. The kindness and generosity has also been incredible, with financial support still needed and appreciated for medical bills and travel expenses. If you feel compelled, and are able, please support Brian and Kelly as they continue to battle this brain tumor and make a donation to help ease some of their stress.

Your love, prayers, and support are appreciated more than know.

Thank you,

Brian, Kelly, Mike, and Martha

Friends and Family, Mike Murrell and I have been blessed to know Brian and Kelly Powell for almost 30 years and consider them a part of our family. If you have been lucky to meet and know Brian and Kelly, you know they are kind, giving, caring, supportive, good people that would do anything they can for anyone. But now, they need our help and support.

Knowing them personally and professionally, with all four of us working together at Sam's Club at one time, we hope to reach as many people as possible to get them support for what they are battling. Not only are there connections professionally, but also to so many personally. Brian is an avid runner and biker and has made many friends over the years through his race travels and race support here at home in NW Arkansas and throughout the US, all of whom we hope to reach.

A little over a month ago, Brian was making adjustments to his bike and went for a test ride. Unfortunately, he had an accident, and although there was no apparent injury to his head, things were just not right as Brian struggled to find words, connect sentences, slurred his speech, and complained of head pain. A trip to the ER and an MRI indicated Brian has a BRAIN tumor in his left frontal lobe. THIS WAS A TOTAL SURPRISE AND SHOCK. His doctor referred him to a specialty hospital in the Boston area for a consultation on 9/1, confirming the tumor and that it needed to come out ASAP.

Brain surgery has been scheduled for 9/14, with Brian remaining in the hospital for several radiation treatments after removing the tumor. Brian & Kelly will stay in Boston until 9/22, when they meet with their team for the post-op and treatment follow-up appointment, at which time we hope they are cleared to come home.

We can show our love and support for Brian and Kelly as they battle and fight this brain tumor. But what can we do, and what do they need?

First, to lift prayers and send positive thoughts that the doctors have steady hands, the brain tumor is self-contained, easy to remove, and not cancerous.

Next, to help with the mounting medical bills, co-pays, and out-of-pocket expenses that are adding up fast. Both for the ER and doctor visits at home and hospital and specialist visits in Boston.

Finally, to help offset the travel expenses getting to/from Boston (twice now) and for accommodations and meals during their 18 days in the Boston area.

With your kindness and donation, we can help alleviate some of their stress from these unexpected expenses, allowing Brian and Kelly to focus on their battle with Brian's brain tumor.

From our hearts and theirs, thank you for taking the time to read this and consider supporting Brian and Kelly. Your support and donation mean more than you know.

Thank you,

Mike and Martha Murrell