Brian Mahoney's Recovery Fund

Update from Annie:

This year has seen our lives completely turned upside down. We appreciate the love and support shown by all of our friends and family, and even those of you who we may not know personally but have found us through loved ones. Your kindness and generosity has helped in innumerable ways.

Brian’s tumor has unfortunately returned and will likely require another brain surgery and radiation treatments in the coming year. He is working hard in his recovery, knowing that any strength he can build now will help him navigate this journey.

We met our insurance maximum early this year, but as January rolls around things begin anew. 2024 promises to bring more significant financial challenges along with the stress of treatments and decision making. We appreciate your continued support in helping us through this difficult time. Please pray for God to bless us with his wisdom and peace.

My name is Peter Kim and I am starting a fundraiser for my dear friend Brian Mahoney. Brian recently underwent an 11-hour procedure to have a tumor removed from his brain.

Brian was vacationing with his wife Annie and her family in Orlando, FL when he suddenly began to experience severe headaches, vision loss and extreme confusion. Due to the sudden onset and severity of his symptoms, they rushed him to the ER only to discover a large tumor on top of his pituitary gland. The tumor had grown to such a size that it was exerting life-threatening pressure on his brain; it was the size of a small avocado.

On January 27th, Brian was flown from Orlando, FL to Baltimore, MD to meet with a medical team at Johns Hopkins Neurology and Neurosurgery. The lead surgeon determined the type of Brian’s tumor, craniopharyngioma. Brian’s diagnosis was extremely rare and affected less than 1% of adults. On February 3rd, Brian’s team of surgeons performed an extremely complex surgical procedure to remove the tumor through his nose over the next 11 hours. We are thrilled the team was successful in removing the mass and biopsy results determined the tumor was non-cancerous!

It has been several weeks since Brian’s surgical procedure was completed and he is at home with his wife starting the long road to recovery. Brian is in great spirits but the effects of the tumor and surgical process are long from over. Although the removal of the tumor was a success, Brian has developed diabetes insipidus and adrenal insufficiency which will require lifelong medications to control. However, the most heartbreaking effect of the entire journey is that Brian has lost his recent memories and his short-term memory has been severely impaired; he is unable to recall anything past Christmas and is currently unable to retain or make any new memories. Although he is in great spirits, he must wake up every morning and re-live the agony of Annie explaining he is currently unable to work, that their finances are quickly being drained, they have sold his car, and they may soon need to sell the house and relocate because of his condition.

Brian and Annie’s lives have been forever altered and they need support while Brian continues to recover. Before his brain tumor, Brian was a successful IT Systems Engineer for over 25 years. Annie is a special needs teacher for the Loudon County school district in Virginia; but, the financial burden from Brian being unable to work has had a huge impact on their finances; Annie’s teacher’s salary is not enough to support them. Annie will have exhausted her vacation, sick, and FMLA time by the end of April and will have to return to work. They will need to find someone to care for Brian until he has recovered mentally. Doctors are hopeful his brain will continue to heal over time but they are uncertain when and how long that will take.

I am asking for your financial support on behalf of the Mahoneys. Any help you can provide would be truly appreciated and if a donation isn’t possible at this time, they’ll be just as thankful for your thoughts and prayers! Please help us reach an initial goal of $50,000!