Joey
West Frankfort, IL
Age 18
Cavernous Malformation of the Brain
Joey was diagnosed seven years ago with a mid-brain tumor that he named “Bob”. On March 18, 2016 the tumor began causing significant problems and had to be removed on May 6th.
Since the surgery, Joey has had extremely painful spasticity throughout his entire body and has experienced extreme deficits that the surgeons did not anticipate. He is only able to communicate through smiles and eye blinks and has been unable to speak since the surgery. He is trapped inside his own body. Doctors have explained that the tumor was inside Joey for so long, that once it was removed, it left an empty space. They are hopeful that in time, his brain will learn to work around that space and bring him back to the life he had before surgery.
Joey has been accepted as a patient at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida but his family (single mother) does not have the funds or the transportation to get him there.
The ATI Foundation will provide financial assistance for Joey and his mother to travel to the Mayo Clinic for further testing and care.