Help Ethan Save His Brain
Donation protected
Ethan Jernigan is 20 years old and recently began working as a maintenance man for an apartment complex—a job he was excited about and enjoying immensely. Then he slowly began feeling sick and run down, unable to eat, walk properly, or remember simple conversations. This started in October of 2021. By Thanksgiving he had lost over 30 pounds and was unable to keep any meals down, his speech slurred and his pupils were dilated.
The following weekend his girlfriend took him to Urgent Care after days of getting progressively sicker. She was then instructed to get him to a Neurologist immediately. On 12/02 the Neurologist instructed them to proceed straight to an ER for an MRI, stressing that it need to be done without delay. After a quick CatScan doctors found a baseball-sized tumor pressing on the ventricles of Ethan’s brain, causing immense swelling and entirely re-shaping his brain. He was scheduled for immediate surgery that weekend. Doctors warned that any delay would be catastrophic and that had he not come in when he did, he would not have survived the pressure being put on his brain for another week. It was determined this tumor had been growing for years, affecting him in numerous untold ways, until it had finally reached a tipping point.
On 12/05, Ethan underwent a 4 and ½ hour surgery to remove, almost, all of the tumor. Small pieces were left behind to preserve brain function while he awaits pathology reports. Since 12/05 Ethan has remained in ICU in order to continuously drain the build-up of spinal fluid and blood that had been leaking into his brain and continues to do so while healing. Ethan is looking at a very long recovery, with numerous bills and changes in his ability to live on his own in the foreseeable future.
Doctors do not know when he will leave ICU, let alone the hospital, and until he is able to work again he is dependent entirely on his girlfriend, friends, and family for everything. He faces the possibility of losing access to his car, phone, and ability to support himself.
All of the funds raised here will go directly to Ethan’s hospital bills, including potential rehabs, recovery therapies, and his living expenses until he is healthy enough to return to the job he was so proud of.
The following weekend his girlfriend took him to Urgent Care after days of getting progressively sicker. She was then instructed to get him to a Neurologist immediately. On 12/02 the Neurologist instructed them to proceed straight to an ER for an MRI, stressing that it need to be done without delay. After a quick CatScan doctors found a baseball-sized tumor pressing on the ventricles of Ethan’s brain, causing immense swelling and entirely re-shaping his brain. He was scheduled for immediate surgery that weekend. Doctors warned that any delay would be catastrophic and that had he not come in when he did, he would not have survived the pressure being put on his brain for another week. It was determined this tumor had been growing for years, affecting him in numerous untold ways, until it had finally reached a tipping point.
On 12/05, Ethan underwent a 4 and ½ hour surgery to remove, almost, all of the tumor. Small pieces were left behind to preserve brain function while he awaits pathology reports. Since 12/05 Ethan has remained in ICU in order to continuously drain the build-up of spinal fluid and blood that had been leaking into his brain and continues to do so while healing. Ethan is looking at a very long recovery, with numerous bills and changes in his ability to live on his own in the foreseeable future.
Doctors do not know when he will leave ICU, let alone the hospital, and until he is able to work again he is dependent entirely on his girlfriend, friends, and family for everything. He faces the possibility of losing access to his car, phone, and ability to support himself.
All of the funds raised here will go directly to Ethan’s hospital bills, including potential rehabs, recovery therapies, and his living expenses until he is healthy enough to return to the job he was so proud of.
Organizer
Robert Jernigan
Organizer
Rockwall, TX