Join Brayden's Journey: Surgery & Recovery

My wonderful, funny and charismatic co-worker Nick is in need of support from his tribe. Eight years ago, Nick's son Brayden was diagnosed with craniopharyngioma, a rare, noncancerous, slow-growing tumor that develops in the brain near the pituitary gland. He underwent several surgeries over the years and went through several weeks of radiation to shrink the tumor. While the radiation was successful, now, years later, it has caused Moyamoya Disease (MMD) a rare, chronic, and progressive cerebrovascular disease that narrows the carotid arteries in the neck, reducing blood flow to the brain. Brayden suffered a seizure which is what lead to recent diagnosis of Moyamoya and it was determined he again needed surgery.

On 4/2/2025, Brayden had a surgery on his brain called Left Sided Pial Synangiosis. This most recent surgery took a healthy scalp artery and placed it on the surface of the brain to encourage the growth of new blood vessels to improve blood flow in his brain.

The surgery went well, but following surgery, Brayden had another seizure, and they were having trouble controlling his sodium level. It is a very serious condition where his brain was using up all of his sodium, called Cerebral Salt Waste.

This boy and his entire family have been through so much over the past several years and this recent diagnosis and hospitalization has taken a lot out of all of them. Brayden has always remained strong, determined, brave and positive despite all he’s been through. With his surgery, re-operation, and complicated post-op course, Nick has been off of work and the medical bills from the last month+ I am sure have been mounting. I am hoping that we can come together as their tribe and help Nick financially in addition to the emotional support so many have been giving him. I am positive any help would be greatly appreciated.