Sade Needs a Thyroidectomy!

The poet Sade Lanay needs our help! They require an extensive surgery to remove their enlarged thyroid gland. The surgery has been scheduled for March 4th, 2022.

A functioning and healthy thyroid gland is situated around the trachea and about is 2cm to 4cm on each side of the neck. Sade's thyroid has grown to nearly 12cm and the size of the gland currently extends down their neck, and below their sternum. Because of how large and how far down their thyroid is currently, there is an 75% chance that the surgeon will have to perform a sternotomy to remove the gland, which will split their sternum and open their chest.

The enlarged thyroid makes everyday life quite difficult for Sade. It presses against their airways and no loger regulates their body temprature, hormones, or their cardiovascular oxygen intake properly. This makes breathing hard, most physical movements exhausting, it disrupts sleep, and the dysfunction of their horomone regulation impacts their mental health and thought patterns.

Sade currently lives in Delhi, NY, and has to travel to Long Island for the surgery, because of how urgent it is needed, and because the surgery requires specialized care that isn't available where they live. If the chest is opened, their recovery time will be about 10 weeks and they will need to stay in Brooklyn/Long Island, for a significant portion of that time.

They are unable to work because of the issues that the thyroid has created, compounded with Hashimotos disease, and other preexisting disabilities. They have Medicaid, which will cover the majority of the surgery itself, but they will need help covering other necessary expenses. We are pursuing all fundraising possibilities to cover travel expenses, recovery expenses, and living expenses.

Thanks for reading this and donating to help Sade. Please share widely! All money will go directly toward the surgery and their recovery.