Rachael McIntosh knew something was wrong immediately.
It was only 15 minutes into 2011 and her head just felt a little off—and not from overdoing her New Year's celebration.
She got up to get some water and her vision went blank, and she felt something pop in her head.
"I felt something go wrong in my brain. I thought I was bleeding to death; I thought I was dying," she said.
It took McIntosh about three hours to compose herself enough so she could remember where she was, who people were, and even get up and walk around.
Still, "I didn't want to worry anyone, spoil anyone's good time, so I downplayed it and just told people that I was recovering from the flu, which I was, though I knew that wasn't the issue."
The next morning, McIntosh still had pressure in her head, so she went to the emergency room. Doctors performed a CT scan and found a lesion in her head. They recommended that she get an MRI, which would show, in more detail, what the lesion looked like.
She did—and it was determined to be a lesion on the brain.
"My viewpoint of life is, it's not supposed to be easy; you're supposed to have ups and downs," McIntosh said. "The only way people grow is by being challenged. And I welcome those challenges. I see this as a really great opportunity to grow and become a better person."
McIntosh, 27, a massage therapist who lives in Chicago's Logan Square neighborhood, has had one of the most trying years. After all, doctors recommended she have another MRI last April, but, without insurance, she couldn't afford it—she was still paying off about $2,000 in medical bills from January.
"I just ignored it [ in April ] , hoped [ the lesion ] would go away," said McIntosh, an out lesbian who admits the lesion has impacted her speech, thinking and more.
On Oct. 6, McIntosh had another MRI, and she learned the lesion had doubled in size.
Doctors recommended removal, particularly based on the location and the lesion's unpredictability. The area of the brain where the lesion is located impacts vision, balance and more.
The bigger problem for McIntosh remains insurance—or the lack thereof.
The hospital where she wants to have the necessary surgery is asking for a down payment since she still does not have insurance. So McIntosh has spent November fundraising, reaching out to anyone and everyone.
"It's been a humbling, enlightening experience," she said. "The majority of people who have donated are complete strangers, which is very touching."
To date, McIntosh has raised more than $6,000. She's shooting for at least $10,000, which her online research indicates is about 10 percent of what brain surgery might cost.
Contact RachMcIntosh@gmail.com to learn how to donate.
