Support My 2025 Major Spinal Neurosurgery with DISC

Friends:

In May 2020, during the height of COVID-19, I underwent a complicated neurosurgery operation on my lumbar spine to "untether" my spinal cord and remove a large tumor that my cord was affixed to and entangled in. That procedure, due to its complexity, required an upfront co-pay of $15K.

I wound up having a second urgent lumbar spine surgery, with a $9K upfront co-pay, in June 2022 to address a bad fracture at L4-5. 

This second surgery was required due to the fracture, but also included disc clean-outs, known as "micro-discectomies," at L4-5 and L5-S1 to remove bone spurs to manage down inflammation of nerve roots at these levels.

At that time, my neurosurgeon, Doctor Robert Bray with DISC in Newport Beach, CA (who is also the spinal surgeon for the U.S. Olympic Team, Red Bull, the NHL, and the X-Games), saw this second surgery as required, but also as an intermediary step towards a "double-fusion" spine surgery at L4-5 and L5-S1, where hardware (titanium plates and pedicle screws) would need to be installed to stabilize my spine.

After this second nine-hour surgery, I asked Dr. Bray about the timing for this third, and hopefully, final lumbar surgery. Bray's response, in June 2022, was the following: "Julian, your spinal cord will let you know when it's time."

Unfortunately, I'm now currently experiencing significant neurological symptoms in both lower legs, ankles, and feet, which are swollen with fluid (edema), due to a condition known as "neurogenic bladder." In short, I need to quickly undergo major neurosurgery at L4-5 and L5-S1 to have these levels "fused" and permanently corrected.

Even with great health insurance, like my NJ Horizon Blue Shield Silver EPO/PPO (which I pay $770 for each month), mandatory, up-front co-pays for neurosurgeries can run as high as $20K.

For this reason, I am launching this GoFundMe to help defray costs for what will be my fourth major neurosurgery, with my neck or cervical spine fused at C6-7 by Penn Neurosurgery in July 2008. 

Ultimately, these four surgeries all stem from a spinal defect I was born with, which included "tethered-cord syndrome," which was unfortunately not correctly diagnosed until I was 50 years old.

Thank you so much for your time, consideration, and potential contribution to this important GoFundMe. I am so grateful for your emotional and financial support!