Corrie’s Knee Journey To Healing

As y’all know Corrie has been struggling w osteoarthritis in her right knee. It’ll be a year since she tore her meniscus and her life hasn’t been the same since. She's had dozens of additional treatments (you name it, she's done it), 2nd 3rd & 4th opinions, MRI’s & tens of thousands of dollars later; she hasn’t improved. In fact she’s seen decline in her other knee, hip joints & sciatic nerve. I picked this cover photo of her bc she was in so much pain this week she could barely get outta the car for our kids graduation, took her close to 5 mins and some tears, but she just did it. She smiles and keeps going and doesn’t let it consume her. She suffers a lot and tries to hide it from us.

She was told by one doctor she needs knee replacement & another wanted to do 2 more surgeries “to see” if it would help before the replacement. We are uninsured so these are 45-70K investments with no guarantee. We're both concerned a complete knee replacement isn’t the answer at her age. She found, through her own research, a cell therapy hospital in Columbia. Being in Columbia the stem cells come from healthy/screened umbilical cords. Here in the US, stem cell therapy can only be done with your own cells not a 3rd party (with, possibly, the exception of Texas we are finding out...still researching this information while we get on the waiting list for Columbia and will update all parties if we find viable). We would be there for 7 days, 5 of the days she would be undergoing various treatments. Vitamin IV infusions, hyperbolic chamber treatment, local stem cell injections into damaged area(s), intravenous stem cell treatment (40 mill stem cells!), physical therapy school then release. This facility is used by thousands of Americans, alot of athletes; UFC fighters, football stars, heavy weight champions, prof skateboarders, actors & regular folk like us. They boast a 90% success rate. She will have to follow a rigorous anti-inflammatory diet 30-40 days prior to the treatment & the earliest she can get admitted is the last week of November. After her orthopedic consult this week, we will be required to put 60% down to reserve her spot. Total cost is appx 30,000 (not including the $2800 plane tickets). This is the basic package and they are anticipating she may need another local stem cell shot in her "good" knee by the time 5 months have passed due to living life the next 5 months. She's been told this will improve her quailty of life tremendously and within 6 weeks she'll notice a huge difference. It will be important for her to stick to the physical therapy and diet for atleast 3 months after this treatment in order to ensure the cells attach, dump dead old cells, grow and heal her internally at peak levels. It is projected she will need to maintain this treatment every 3-5 years, at the very least in that right knee, however, they have said about 50% walk out and never return.

We have been preparing ourselves, financially, for this as best as we can. Corrie’s work has slowed tremendously since the Federal Reserves have ballooned interest rates (if you know anyone looking to buy or sell, call my wife!) and she’s been diligent in putting away a stash, however, we are short we are embarrassed to say. This 5k would go toward the downpayment along with our 25k. Next week we are committing to the plane tickets & starting the process of getting our passports renewed so there are no delays.

We come to our close friends and family asking for your support & COMPLETELY understand if this is not something you can do- we are living in weird times these days- and offering up hard earned money is not something to take lightly. Corrie did not want me to send this out, but agreed if I added this;

“Your prayers and support mean more to us than you could ever imagine. If you have received this email we consider you a beloved friend, prayer partner, family, and/or someone we know will lift us up in however form you feel comfortable. Please know we do not hold any of you all to any monetary support, prayers are more powerful than anything tangible! I am nervous but hopeful and prayerful this will heal me and get me into a pain free life again! I hesitated to let Todd do this because I trust God will provide for us if this is His will for me. But Todd reminded me -"Iron sharpens Iron, and one man sharpens another." (Proverbs 27) Not to be taken out of context but without community and support we would be nothing! Love to you all and I will be documenting our time there for anyone interested.”

God bless, Todd