Donate to Kimberly Cooke's Surgery and Recovery

My name is Kimberly Cooke and I am having surgery on my right hip on December 4, 2024, and on my left hip on March 5, 2025. Two years ago, I developed severe pain in both my hips, which radiated all the way through my groin. For the first few months, I continuously asked myself what I was doing differently to be pulling my muscles (that is the best way to describe the pain in my groin). During this time, I ended up having to go to the hospital for a possible kidney stone, and a CT scan was ordered. The results inadvertently found what was diagnosed as avascular necrosis (AVN) of the hips. AVN is a rare condition with only 20,000 to 30,000 people diagnosed a year. I live in Wilmington, NC, and there are no orthopedic doctors that specialize in this condition. As I started to do research on it, I found a doctor up at Duke University who specializes in rare hip conditions. Over the following year, I have made several trips up to Duke to have hip injections done (one in each hip) as well as MRIs done on each hip. The last MRIs showed that I could still possibly have AVN (my surgeon is not completely convinced that is one of the issues), but it also revealed that I have a torn ligament in each hip, a fluid sack caused by my body compensating for the pain and not walking normally, tendonitis, and some arthritis. So I have been walking the past 2 years with a torn ligament in each hip. The only way to fix that problem is for me to have surgery to repair the ligaments. The pain has been so severe that I've not been able to work a normal job. I can't stand longer than 20 minutes, I can't sit longer than 20-30 minutes without having to get up and move around, and any walking at all causes extreme pain. I am on pain management and literally have no quality of life!

I am finally having surgery to repair the torn ligament in my right hip, but will be on crutches and in a full hip brace for 4-6 weeks. I will not be able to drive, and will not be able to return to work for 3 months. And a full recovery will take up to 9-12 months. Since I will be able to walk and put full weight on my right hip after 3 months, I am then going to have the same surgery on my left hip.

With all that being said, I have struggled the past few months in paying my utility bills. Because the pain is so severe and I'm unable to work, I have started pet sitting, house sitting, and cleaning for people in my neighborhood. That has allowed me to be able to pay my bills. But once I have this surgery, and straight into the next surgery, I am not going to be able to go out and get a job for at least 6 months. I'm asking for help to raise money so I will be able to pay my utilities, and therefore will be able to continue to live in my house! And starting January 1, 2025, my insurance policy starts over and not only am I going to have to be able to pay my utilities, but I'm going to have medical bills coming in left and right until I meet my out-of-pocket max of $1150.00.

Any amount of money is never too small. And for those of you who know me, in lieu of flowers, please donate that money to help me pay my utilities and medical bills! I absolutely have to have these surgeries... I have no choice. And I will do anything to be able to stay in my home. So I ask you to please help and donate so I can pay my utilities and upcoming medical bills. And again, no amount is too small. Thank you, and thank you for helping to relieve some of my anxiety to where I can finally concentrate on my surgeries and my intensive physical therapy! Thank you!