Kendall Fitzgerald spent months unable to see clearly, walk without a cane, or breathe the way he used to, all because of a rare condition building pressure inside his skull. Now, weeks after a minimally invasive brain surgery he says was an overall success, the Denver resident is inviting strangers and neighbors alike to celebrate with him while he is still around to enjoy it: a living celebration of life at Cheesman Park on August 15.
Fitzgerald was diagnosed with idiopathic intracranial hypertension, a rare condition that causes increased pressure and fluid buildup around the brain, according to Westword. The disorder is uncommon enough that it affects an estimated 3.44 per 10,000 women aged 18 to 55 in the United States, with the broader population incidence ranging from just 0.9 to 1.8 per 100,000 annually, according to research published in PubMed. Its symptoms can mimic those of a brain tumor even though none is present.
Fitzgerald began experiencing head discomfort and numbness in his hands and feet around November, the outlet reports. By January, doctors found his spinal fluid pressure was off the charts. The condition eventually affected his ability to walk, breathe, and see throughout 2025, and he developed severe balance problems that forced him to rely on a walker.
A Stent, a Save-the-Date, and a New City
In early July, Fitzgerald underwent minimally invasive brain surgery that involved placing a stent to keep a major brain vein open, relieving the pressure and fluid buildup. The procedure he underwent is known as venous sinus stenting, a neuroendovascular technique that widens narrowed cerebral veins with a small mesh tube and resolves the swelling behind the eyes tied to the condition in roughly 80 percent of patients, according to peer-reviewed research. Fitzgerald says he no longer has double vision or eye pain, and he is rehabbing his speaking and motor skills…