Please help to Ease David's Medical Burden

Hi friends and family. We are setting up this GoFundMe in support of my brother and sister in law, and their son David. Over the past few months especially, they have been hit with some unexpected medical bills and could use some extra support. If you know Dave and Heather, you know how hardworking they are and that they are not ones to ask for any handout, but that’s why I am doing this for them.

In 2022, my nephew David was 11 and suffering from severe migraines. In September, my sister in law took him to the ER and found out that he had a brain tumor. They were rushed over to Children’s Hospital and their amazing doctors discovered that it was a tumor growing on his optic nerve and pressing on his pituitary gland. Through a lot of imaging, they decided that the surgical route was too dangerous for both David’s maturity (due to its location by the pituitary gland) and his sight – it would have a large risk that the surgery would impact, if not take away, David’s vision. Rather than surgery, the staff recommended regular imaging to monitor the tumor and regular visits to the eye doctor which would likely be the first sign of changes in the tumor.

Fast forward to 2024 and almost a dozen MRIs and just as many trips to the ophthalmologist later, David is now 13 and in middle school. During the first month of the school year David called home reporting that he had pain in his eye and some trouble seeing. The first call was to Children’s Hospital and in the next two weeks David saw the ophthalmologist who confirmed the vision deficit in his eyes, had MRIs that confirmed the tumor’s growth and was into surgery for a chemo port and started chemotherapy on a weekly basis.

David has been STRONG. Even with the chemo making him sick and missing a lot of school, he manages to keep a positive outlook (and keep his grades up). His teachers comment about how “stoic” and “inspirational” he is, not asking for special treatment or attention, but striving to do his best. He keeps being a role model and a friend to his little brother, Matthew, who has been there for him through everything (even though it is hard to understand and watch).

Now, to the request. In addition to all of this for David, Dave (David’s dad) is going to be out of work for almost two months due to the need for a sudden surgery – adding to the medical bills and taking away from the income coming in (he is a bartender and works on tips). The medical bills are adding up, the deductible starts over in the new year and there are costs for the “other things” to make his life more comfortable for David… AND the holidays are here too! We would like to see their family not have to worry about where the payments for medical bills are going to come from or how they are going to celebrate.

Thank you for your generosity and kindness!

-Rick & Jody