When a routine eye exam sent Bodie to the ICU with a brain tumor, his family faced overwhelming decisions and mounting financial worry. BTN reached out on their behalf, opening the door to a no-cost second opinion and the reassurance that they weren’t facing the journey alone.
At 19, Bodie went in for what his family expected to be a routine annual eye exam. Instead, they were told to go to the emergency room immediately.
After a series of scans, he was transferred to the ICU at the main hospital, where doctors found a brain tumor blocking his cerebral aqueduct. The blockage had caused fluid to build up in his brain, placing pressure on his optic nerve and threatening his vision.
Bodie spent 22 days in the hospital and underwent placement of a shunt system to relieve the pressure. His medical team wanted to begin radiation therapy right away. Before moving forward, his family hoped to seek a second opinion and began researching leading medical centers, searching for the highest level of expertise for his care. What they found was discouraging. Many of the nation’s premier hospitals offered little or no financial assistance, and the care they wanted for their son felt out of reach.
Within just a few minutes of speaking with my BTN Navigator, I knew we were no longer facing this journey alone.
While looking for resources, Bodie’s mother, Rachelle, found Brain Tumor Network online and reached out. BTN called her back that same day, just as she was absorbing yet another piece of difficult financial news.
From the first phone call, the family’s navigator brought a sense of calm. She helped every step of the way, linking medical accounts, gathering records and imaging, and coordinating the details needed to connect the family with the team at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. Because of that support, Bodie was able to travel to St. Jude for a second opinion at no cost to his family.
The family left with a clear understanding of Bodie’s diagnosis, confidence in his treatment options, and renewed hope. After they returned home, their navigator followed up to check on how Bodie was doing, a reminder that they were never just another case.
Brain Tumor Network is honored to have stood beside Bodie and his family, offering guidance, clarity, and hope during one of the most difficult times of their lives.
