Help Support BJ's Recovery From Brain Tumor

Hi, my name is Cacey and I'm raising funds for my close friend Courtney and her husband BJ Knutson.

On January 30th, BJ went to the eye doctor expecting to leave with glasses and contacts. His vision had gotten worse over a 2 month period, his right eye peripheral vision had diminished and was left with blurry sight. The eye doctor told him that the anatomy of his eyes resembled a patient who had been through a stroke. With this news, Courtney and BJ went to Crossing Rivers ER. There, BJ underwent a complex MRI that showed a very large Pituitary Tumor compressing his optic nerve and encasing his carotid arteries. BJ was then transferred to Meriter Hospital in Madison and readmitted to UW on Friday, February 2nd, where he needed urgent surgery due to his vision getting worse.

Sunday, February 4th, was the first surgery to remove the tumor. This surgery lasted about 9 hours. The initial surgery proved to be a challenge due to the tumor being very fibrous and difficult to remove. The surgeon was able to free his arteries and the optic nerves. However, they couldn’t get the entire tumor. Monday, February 5th, BJ was sitting and talking, but he was very delusional. Later that night, BJ was not as sharp with his neuro exam and was taken for a CT scan that showed that he had a bleed. He then went in for another emergent brain surgery to remove the hemorrhage.

BJ was not able to catch a break. After the first two brain surgeries, BJ underwent burr-holes with a drain placement, a craniotomy, and 6 angio procedures to apply medication to the vessels in his brain to help with the spasms. He has since developed pneumonia and is currently intubated.

Today, February 19th, BJ finally has had some improvements. He is still intubated, but his neuro exam has improved. The doctors believe that they won’t have to take him back to the angio suite for more treatment at this time. Once his pneumonia begins to improve, they will take his intubation tubing out and begin to ween him off medications.

Down the road, once BJ is medically cleared, he will need to go to an acute rehab facility where he will begin intense therapy before being able to go home to his growing family. This has been, and will continue to be a long, extensive, unforeseen journey.

BJ and Courtney found out they are expecting baby Knutson #2 before BJ was diagnosed with this brain tumor. Courtney has been there with him by his side since the very beginning. She has been traveling back and forth between home and Madison daily.

BJ and Courtney are always there and willing to help out others. Now is our chance to help out this beautiful, soon to be, family of 4! Any donation amount will be graciously used towards medical bills, traveling back + forth and monthly expenses.

Thanks you so much for your consideration in donating.