Please help Chantel get life changing back surgery

Hi, my name is Breffni. Myself and a group of friends and family are trying to raise funds for medical treatment for our dear friend Chantel.

It may come as a surprise to some, as she is an expert at hiding the pain behind her beautiful smile and kind heart, but the past 13 years have been an incredible struggle to remain independent.

In 2011, while working in New Zealand as a Teaching Assistant, Chantel injured her back while transferring to change and feed a wheelchair bound special needs student. After years of physio and rehabilitation, and then a failed back surgery in 2016, Chantel has continued to face an uphill battle to regain her quality of life.

The life she is currently living is not sustainable and one we are not willing for her to continue. Our life-loving, adventure seeking, ambitious young friend, has been left to navigate life in a wheelchair, with limited support. A medical professional who recently visited Chantel described her situation as one of the worst cases of medical neglect she has witnessed. You can see why we have to get Chantel out of this situation.

At this stage Chantel is at the whim of the insurer rather than being given the care deemed necessary by the NZ healthcare system. At every stage this has been an agonisingly slow process and we want to get her the care she requires now.

We feel that we must help her to move forward to the life she deserves to live. Chantel has THE BIGGEST HEART and always puts everyone before herself. She is an emotional rock for many people all over the world and she now needs us. Let’s show her some love! We can get her through this together.

After her initial injury in 2011, her pain and recovery was managed quite conservatively for five years before the first of her multi-level spinal fusion surgeries in 2016.

Unfortunately not only did the surgery not provide any relief but it exacerbated her pain and in May 2019, Chantel went back for a second surgery, to revise, regraft and remove all of the metalwork in her spine. There was no change to her pain. Chantel had to reluctantly give up work on medical grounds.

It wasn’t until October 2022, more than six years after that first failed surgery, Chantel was told by the consultant anaesthetist of The Persistent Pain Programme that she had Failed Spinal Surgery Syndrome.

Chantel suffers from debilitating back pain and neuropathy (nerve pain). She can’t bend, lift or twist which makes everyday tasks impossible for her to do by herself. Because of this she has a support worker, subject to the approved amount of hours deemed suitable by the insurer at the time. This can be changed without much consideration of Chantel’s needs - it is based on reports by various allied health staff who work for the insurer.

She has been on a host of medications for many years now, however, these very strong drugs do little for her chronic pain.

In Nov 2022, she started a new patch medication from her anaesthetist that destroyed her blood pressure. She experienced serious falls, shaking, vomiting, for more than half a year.

In Jan 2023, Chantel’s ability to walk without aids became impossible, meaning she now needs to use a walker for short distances and a wheelchair at other times.

In May 2023, Chantel saw a new neurosurgeon who recommended her as a suitable patient for a Spinal Cord Stimulator – an implanted device to help alleviate her pain.

She has trialled every treatment and procedure she has been able to, with little improvement, there has been a significant impact on her mental health.

What’s next…

Before the Spinal Cord Stimulator Assessment can go ahead Chantel needs more surgeries so that she can be in the best place possible for this surgery to be a success. We have to be clear about this, she has to qualify for this life changing surgery.

One surgery was completed in December 2023 in NZ, however, Chantel needs a further specialist surgery, something that isn’t readily available or easily accessible in New Zealand.

This is why we need your help. The surgery can be performed in Sydney, Australia this month in a private hospital. Chantel is able to stay with her sister in Sydney while this surgery happens but she needs support to pay for this private surgery and rehabilitation.

We’re hopeful this can happen before September – October 2024 when the Spinal Cord Stimulator Assessment takes place in TARPS (The Auckland Regional Pain Service), Auckland, New Zealand. If all these pieces come together, Neurosurgeon Suzanne Jackson will have space for Chantel to undergo the surgical trial starting in December 2024 and hopefully start her on her path to a brighter future.

End Goal…

Receive Spinal Cord Stimulation surgical trial in Christchurch hospital in December 2024/ January 2025.

How will the funds be used?

To pay for the private surgery in Sydney and any follow up rehabilitation required. The surgery is expected to cost approximately $20k AUD.

We also want to enable Chantel to be able to pay privately for prehab and rehab specialist services prior to and post implantation of the Spinal Cord Stimulator.

Chantel is the most optimistic person we know but even her sparkle is starting to dim. The pain is wearing her down and we need to help lift her back up. Please give what you can, we appreciate it so much!