Baby Cameron Casacci faced an unimaginable journey from his very first day of life, suffering a stroke and blood clot that permanently damaged the left hemisphere of his brain and later developed into treatment-resistant epilepsy that threatened his development. His parents Brad and Alyssa were told their son needed a rare and complex hemispherotomy, a surgery that would disconnect the damaged left side of his brain to save the healthy right side, but their insurance company denied coverage because the only pediatric neurosurgeon willing to operate on a child so young was located out of state in Pennsylvania. Facing financial ruin and their baby’s uncertain future, the family watched in amazement as friends organized a GoFundMe campaign that captured hearts around the world.
Strangers from across the globe not only donated money but wrote to legislators, contacted news stations, and shared Cameron’s story until nearly $100,000 had been raised to cover the life-saving surgery. Just when the family thought the generosity of strangers was miracle enough, they received even better news: their insurance company had overturned its denial and would now cover the surgery costs. The Casaccis are using the GoFundMe donations to establish a medical trust for Cameron’s years of therapy and treatments ahead, protected from taxation and ensuring their little fighter has every possible advantage. While no one knows what the future holds for Cameron, this double stroke of good fortune has given his family something priceless: hope and the financial security to face whatever challenges lie ahead without the crushing burden of medical debt.