On June 19, I received news I definitely wasn’t expecting: I was diagnosed with a pituitary macroadenoma, a type of brain tumor.
Thankfully, the overwhelming majority of these tumors are benign. Mine, however, is actively secreting growth hormone, causing a rare condition called acromegaly. Only a few people out of every million are diagnosed with it each year, so apparently I won a lottery I never bought a ticket for.
For a little perspective, Andre the Giant had the same condition. Unfortunately, I didn’t get the 7’4” height or the professional wrestling career.
The first line of treatment for my tumor is transsphenoidal surgery, a procedure to remove the tumor through my nose.
After my endocrinologist diagnosed me, she referred me to Dr. Timothy Smith at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. What we expected to be a fairly straightforward path to treatment instead became months of insurance battles, prior authorizations, denials, appeals, appointments, bloodwork, and countless phone calls.
Needless to say, it made for one very long summer.
Thankfully, there is finally light at the end of the tunnel. My surgery is scheduled for October at Brigham and Women’s, and I feel incredibly fortunate to finally be moving forward with the care my medical team recommended.
While my new insurance will cover my medical care, surgery and recovery still come with additional expenses that fall outside of insurance coverage.
We are starting this GoFundMe with a goal of $5,000 to help offset the uncovered expenses. Some of the expenses include: insurance deductibles, Tier 3 specialist co-pays, MRI’s, lab work, travel to and from Boston, hotel stay near Brigham for Michelle, parking, meals, medications and recovery supplies, time away from work, follow-up appointments and other unexpected costs that may come along during surgery and recovery.
Any money raised will go directly toward those surgery and recovery-related expenses.
Right now, I actually feel pretty good. If it weren’t for a simple blood test followed by an MRI, I might not even know this tumor was there. I know things could be much worse, and I’m trying to keep that perspective and my sense of humor through all of this.
I’m incredibly grateful for my endocrinologist, Dr. P, who has advocated for me from day one and has been there every step of the way.
And most importantly, I want to thank my wife, Michelle. She has been beside me through every appointment, phone call, insurance battle, setback, and bit of good news. I couldn’t have gotten through this summer without her.
Over the last week or so, people have asked what they can do to help. For me, asking for help doesn’t always come easy, but having some of the financial pressure taken off our shoulders would allow us to focus on what matters most right now: getting through surgery and recovery.
If you’re able to donate, Michelle and I are incredibly grateful. No amount is too small. If donating isn’t possible, simply sharing this fundraiser would mean just as much to us.
For now, the goal is pretty simple: get through surgery, recover, and hopefully put this tumor and one very long summer behind us.
Thank you to everyone who has checked in, supported us, encouraged us, or simply cared enough to read our story.
Ray & Michelle
