Surgery and Medical Expenses

Kristi has a rare disease of the spinal cord called OPLL: Ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligaments. This growth is on the anterior side of her spinal cord (behind her heart/lungs and cannot be removed. She has been experiencing extreme pain and numbness in her back and legs because of the compression. She will be having an extensive multilevel spinal cord decompression, 6-7 level fusion, laminectomy , along with a rib removal and removal of nerve endings which is scheduled for 6/29. The surgery is not to take the pain/numbness away but in hopes of keeping her from becoming paralyzed from her chest down as the disease continues to progess. Surgery will take place in Dallas with an inpatient rehad stay of approximately 3 weeks and after returning home outpatient rehab for approximately one year. As you can imagine, this is going to be a huge financial burden. There will not only be Dave's time off of work, medical bills, medical equipment for the house not covered by insurance but the cost of travel back and fourth to Dallas for appointments and hotel stays...who knows how long. Please be praying for the Dr's, medical staff, healing, strength and travel.