Gabe & Jenna Zimmer Medical Expense Help

As many of you are aware Gabriel (Gabe) Zimmer was diagnosed with a brain tumor right before starting his senior year of high school. After the surgery to remove the tumor, he spent a year undergoing radiation and chemo treatment.

Fast forward 19 years, Gabe has found his soulmate in Jenna Copeland and proposed January 2023. In May 2023, the couple was in pre-wedding bliss, preparing for their wedding in September and dreaming of what their future would hold when Jenna found a bump on the back of Gabe’s head right where the scar from the previous surgery was. After several tests, multiple doctors and a lot of frustration, a biopsy confirmed that it was cancer. The tumor grew to the size of a large lime and was eating through Gabe’s skull bone by the time it was removed on July 1st. Thankfully, Jenna was able to work from home for the first four months while Gabe recovered from the surgery and underwent 3 cycles of aggressive chemotherapy.

Gabe has worked hard to keep his spirits high but there have been many obstacles in the way. Between the surgery and the chemo, Gabe still deals with blurred/double vision and migraines limiting his ability to drive. Chemo has also affected his hearing resulting in the need for hearing aids. It also weakened his heart to the point that he had to pause chemo for the past 7 weeks. Recently, cardiology has given their approval to restart chemo but at a milder dose for an undetermined number of cycles. In addition to chemo, Proton Beam Therapy is needed to deal with the spots on his skull. Conventional radiation therapy is not an option without high risk of severe damage to the brain. Proton Beam Therapy is not available in Wisconsin and is not an allowable service for many insurance policies.

Gabe’s new insurance policy will require almost $25,000 of out of pocket costs for 2024’s treatment and periodic scans. The treatment will be performed near Chicago and will require Jenna and Gabe to temporarily relocate to a hotel near the hospital for 8 weeks while still covering apartment costs back in Oshkosh. Proton Therapy will start at the beginning of February. Gabe has been on long term disability since July. Effective 12/11/23, his employer has permanently laid him off. We are so thankful that Jenna and Gabe were able to celebrate their wedding day in September at an intimate ceremony and dinner in Gabe’s mom’s backyard. The last 6 months have brought Jenna and Gabe even closer as they support each other during these trying times. We are asking for your help to support the couple as they continue down this treatment journey. If you are not comfortable making a monetary donation, please send good vibes and prayers their way.