Western New York Baby to Receive Life-saving Brain Surgery After Originally Being Denied by Insurance Company

What began as a devastating fight against an insurance denial has turned into a victory for one Western New York family, and a major step toward giving their baby the chance at a healthier future.

Cam, an infant from Western New York, was diagnosed with a rare brain condition requiring a highly specialized surgery. The only neurosurgeon capable of performing the delicate procedure is located in Pittsburgh, PA.

Unfortunately, that surgeon was considered out-of-network under the family’s insurance plan, leading the company to initially refuse coverage.

The denial left Cam’s parents, Alyssa and Brad Casacci, facing the impossible: either raise six figures to pay for the operation out-of-pocket or watch their son go without the care he desperately needed. There are no doctors in Western New York qualified to perform the surgery, making the insurance rejection even more heartbreaking.

The situation drew widespread attention, even reaching the nationally syndicated Free Beer and Hot Wings Morning Show. Support poured in from across the community and beyond, with many calling on the insurer to reverse its decision.

The Casaccis launched a GoFundMe to help cover the costs in case their appeals failed, rallying what they described as “The City of Good Neighbors” to Cam’s cause.

Then, late last week, the news they had been praying for arrived.

From Cam’s parents:

To our dear family, friends, and all those who have become invested in our sweet Cam’s journey: We have an update in our fight against the insurance company regarding Cam’s brain surgery he needs with the neurosurgeon he deserves in Pittsburgh….

WE WON!!!!!!!

On Friday, New York State Department of Health urged Independent Health to overturn their appeal decision in Cam’s favor. Even with that, we still had to push the insurance company to quickly confirm that recommendation yesterday. Being a first time parent is hard enough - being a parent to a medically complicated child even more so.

No parent should have to endure the stress and exhaustion countless hours of advocating for acceptable health care brings. Especially when it is the most vulnerable among us who are suffering from the choices others unknowingly make for them. Regardless, this is a HUGE win for Cam’s future and we will always continue to fight for what is right. We are so relieved to be moving forward towards Cam’s goal of a potential life without seizures.

We will be heading down to Pittsburgh next week so Cam can get the complex brain surgery that we pray will bring him seizure freedom and allow for his beautiful brain to thrive. This surgery is not the end of Cam’s story but merely a larger chapter in his amazingly resilient story.

For years to come we will focus on superior healthcare, therapies, and potentially adaptive equipment to help give him the best childhood and life possible. And because of the generosity of those around us, we will no longer let what an insurance company dictates limit or confine what is possible for our amazing child.

Thank you for all the support you have given our family. Overwhelming is a word we have used often to describe these past 11 months, but now we are overwhelmed by the compassion, kindness, and love from so many people both near and far. While fighting so desperately against a broken system, you have renewed our faith in humanity and given us the strength to face any obstacles that lie ahead.

Whether you wrote a letter, prayed, shared our story, gave us advice, connected us to valuable resources, or donated - We thank you immensely as you all played a huge role in Cam’s insurance resolution. Although there are no words to describe how grateful we are, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

Love,

Cam, Alyssa and Brad

The Casacci family will travel to Pittsburgh next week for Cam’s surgery.

Western New York Baby to Receive Life-saving Brain Surgery After Originally Being Denied