Help Brian Saphire Recover from Brain Surgery

As many of you know, doctors have recently discovered a rare brain tumor in my brother Brian's pineal region of the brain. The pineal gland is located directly in the center of the brain, and tumors in this region are extremely rare-- only detected in about 81 adults each year. What started off as a trip to the ER for a bad migraine on October 16th quickly turned into an emergency life-saving surgery to drain the spinal fluid that had built up in the brain, followed by another surgery this past week to remove as much of the tumor as possible.

Doctors have informed our family that Brian will be unable to work for a minimum of 6 months. This news devastated Brian as he was the sole provider for his wife Bridget and their almost 8-month-old daughter, Bailey Grace. Covid has already been rough on those working in the entertainment industry with concerts and other large-scale events being canceled over the past year and a half. Brian and Bridget were in the process of saving up for a home when Covid hit. Sadly, the financial burden of not working forced them to move back in with his mother-in-law while Brian took any odd end jobs he could find to make ends meet.

Brian is finally out his surgeries and is healing at home. He is focusing on his next steps as he waits to hear if he is a candidate for chemotherapy. He has a long journey ahead until he is back to the funny and goofy guy that we all know and love. Any funds raised for him will go toward his bills, food, hospital expenses, and baby items for his daughter.

A little more about Brian:

Brian is the most hard-working and caring person I know. He works for Local 4 as a stagehand and is always trying to help others in need find work in his industry.

Brian loves to serve his community and has been volunteering as a firefighter since he turned 18. He served as a volunteer firefighter in our hometown of Lindenhurst for 14.5 years and worked his way up to lieutenant. After moving in with his mother-in-law due to Covid, Brian recently joined the Malvern fire department in June 2021.

Brian is truly the most selfless person I know. After Sandy hit in 2012, Brian woke up after a night of helping put out fires on flooded streets to make soup and chili for families displaced from their homes—this wasn’t an event set up by any organization, but something he did with his own money and on his own accord. This is one of dozens of stories that show just how much he prioritizes serving others in his community.

Brian is such an important person in our family. He is the goofy uncle who is ready at any given moment to put on a costume or sing karaoke to entertain his nieces and nephews. Brian recently became a father to his almost 8-month-old daughter Bailey Grace after marrying his longtime girlfriend, Bridget.

We truly appreciate all of the love, prayers, good vibes, and donations that you all have given our family during this time.