As Caitlin continued to try to recover and gain back some “brain power skills”, she looked for something that was quiet (hearing is ultra sensitive after this brain surgery) yet challenge her brain. After completing the Leggo Architectural Paris, Caitlin decided she wanted to help others with brain cancer. So she created Build a Cure for Brain Cancer. She started raising funds to purchase kits for children and young adults suffering from this disease. Caitlin has always been a person who wanted to help others and “make a difference”. She talked with her neuro oncologist and started raising funds to help with the research to find a cure. Her doctors had been at a conference when they learned about a new trial drug that has the potential to help Caitlin’s tumor stop growing and even shrink. That drug DID work for Caitlin, until it didn’t. Caitlin died 3 years, 3 months later. But her fund helped many young children and young adults while she was alive, and her family and friends continue her work. They have raised enough to give kits to many more people, as well as fund trials for patients.
Caitlin Marie Boyle
Founder of Build a Cure for Brain Cancer
Caitlin was a healthy child and young adult. Until she wasn’t. She developed intense, debilitating headaches and was diagnosed with a malignant Grade 4 Diffused Midline Glioma. She was told she had 9-12 months to live. She needed emergency surgery for hydrocephalous (spinal fluid build up in the brain).
This came at a time in her life when Caitlin was busier than ever. She was 26, had graduated from college with a degree in Animal Sciences. She’d been working in the Michigan Senate and House, making a difference for people and wild animals (through legislation). She then began working as a Veterinarian Assistant. Four months before diagnosis she had gone back to Michigan State University to begin working on a Veterinary Science degree.
Insight to Caitlin’s work ethic - She had to stop going to school when they admitted her for Brain Surgery #1. She had someone contact her professors and explain. She asked if she could take her final exams afterwards. (They of course told her not to worry about exams, just get through the surgery first.) After Brain Surgery #2 (complication after #1), then 6 weeks of radiation, chemo and then a trial drug, she eventually got to a point of “maintenance” so she applied for accommodations and returned to college after taking a semester off. Her brain was not healed enough to process or comprehend college work, her eyes could not focus to read that much material, so she had to quit that program. Her heart was broken that she’d never be able to pursue her dream.
