Standing With the Woodleys

(St. Louis, MO) – Assistant coach Matt Woodley and the Drake Bulldogs have begun the long journey into the basketball season. But Woodley and his family are facing a much larger journey. Woodley’s six-year-old daughter Molly is having brain surgery.

Molly’s story has been well documented. ESPN, KCCI (Des Moines) and other outlets have told the Woodleys’ story very well. This week the Woodleys’ gofundme page has reminded us of her story.

Jennifer Woodley writes: “Molly has been battling intractable epilepsy for three years and just had her first two diagnostic brain surgeries in late July.”

We at ValleyHoopsInsider.com have attempted to stay on top of this situation in conversations with head coach Darian DeVries. We are now reaching out to you. The Woodleys need our help.

Their fund-raising page is looking to raise $40,000 for chartering a plane to Cleveland.

Jennifer describes Molly’s surgery as possibly life-changing.

“Molly will be getting 1/4 of her brain removed in an effort towards a seizure free life,” said Woodley. “She is incurring brain damage at an incredibly fast rate and needs to have surgery as soon as possible. In addition to her diseased brain tissue due to epilepsy, the doctors have also found a lesion on her brain that will be removed next week.”

One of the reasons Matt Woodley took the Drake position was to work with DeVries and to be near his and Jennifer’s families. They need to be ‘home’.

Molly’s surgeries have gone well.

“Our warrior has successfully made it through her third, and final, brain surgery,” said Jennifer. ” She is resting as comfortably as possible in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit in the Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital.”

Our generosity will make a difference.

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