Kris's Throat Tumor Surgery

My name is Kris. I'm starting this fundraiser in hopes to be able to help with some of the expenses related to my throat tumor surgery coming up this summer. I hope to use the cost to cover my medical bills not covered by insurance as well as missed work as I don't have much sick time from having just started a new staff position that offers it.

I've had this issue for over 2 years now, as it was initially found in an emergency room after my throat swole up for no reason (or so I thought at the time) and caused me to nearly suffocate. They found the initial tumor and did ultrasound, MRI, and biopsy and found it to benign and that I would have to have it monitored every 6 months. As I didn't have insurance, I couldn't afford to. So as I just got my new staff position this last December that offers health insurance, I went back to have it imaged again and biopsied again to find it's grown 2.5x in the 2 years (about the size of a gumball) but is still benign. Because it's causing issues with my breathing it's going to be removed.

I'm a college student working on my bachelors degree, my senior year, and work in planetary science at the school I attend. I'm hoping to have this done over the summer so it doesn't affect my final semesters and I can graduate "on time". I'm a non-traditional student who went back to school at 29 to be the first person in my family to get a degree. Everything has been through loans and some grants, and it's taken significantly longer because I also work. I turn 36 this year, and next spring will be the year I hopefully make my family proud, but with this surgery I'll have a much better time being able to breathe properly walking across that stage to get my diploma. Anything is appreciated. Thanks for reading!