Get Michael Deyermond On His Feet

At the age of 46, Michael Deyermond shouldn’t have been almost crippled with spinal stenosis, but he was.  This genetic disease, which his father, aunt and grandmother have also struggled with, hit Michael with a vengeance.  The narrowing of the spinal canal in his neck caused numbness and loss of strength in his left arm, and his lower spine was even worse.  With arthritis putting pressure on the nerves to his legs from L4 all the way down to S1, Michael’s left foot began to drag significantly several years ago.  By last summer, he could barely walk 10 feet and his left leg had withered to half the size of his right.

In addition to his loss of mobility, Mike was in excruciating pain, beginning in his lower back and shooting down his legs.  He couldn’t sit, stand or lie in comfort for any length of time.  Mike desperately needed medical treatment, but as a self-employed artist, he could not afford health insurance in the United States.  Enter Laurel, his longtime friend.  Laurel, who had known Michael for 10 years, could see that essentially, he was dying.  The pain and loss of strength he was experiencing was destroying his spirit and making it impossible for him to work, even at his beloved art.

Laurel had an opportunity to study in Rome, Italy, where she had previously lived.  She also knew that Italy offered excellent health care at much more affordable prices than in the U.S.  Last October, Laurel got Mike to Rome, where he began medical treatment for his stenosis. He has had two surgeries, one on his neck and one on his lower back, and is beginning to rebound.  It’s been a long battle, complicated by the development of acute surgical gout.  Nevertheless, even with the lower costs of care and drugs in Italy, he has exhausted his savings and maxed out all available credit.

The surgeries are behind Michael, but the debt and ongoing expenses for his rehabilitation are not.  Your donation will help reduce his debt, finance the remainder of his medical care, and help him literally get back on his feet.  Michael is ready to turn the page and is looking forward to working again, contributing to society, and getting to the point where he can possibly help someone else who is going through the trials he has been through.  Please help him on this journey.  If you cannot donate at this time, please share this with those who might be interested in helping.  Any contribution you can give will make a difference.

In the meantime, we invite you to take a look at Michael’s work, to which we all hope he can get back to soon...
www.michaeldeyermond.com 
www.craigkrullgallery.com/Deyermond