Help Hope Heal and walk again after back injury.

Hi, I am Hope.

If someone had told me what would transpire in my life this year, in a very short period of time, I wouldn't have believed it. In early February I thought I was one month from launching my new business. I had poured 7 months of my life and everything I had financially into this beautiful mentorship program, and the ceremonial cases that come with working with me. But.......life had other plans.........

In early February I discovered one of my dearest friends John, and father type figure, passed away in his apartment. He had been deceased a week. I had called to check on him because he was going to be dog sitting for me the coming week, but he wasn't answering. While he was in his mid 70's, it was not even a thought that he had passed away.

I was John's closest friend, and with no "Next of Kin" locally, it was up to me to handle his affairs, and to sift and sort his life's work for his children and friends. After fighting with his property management for weeks, I was finally granted permission to go in and pack up his belongings on March 1st. That morning as I sat with my coffee, the ceiling in my home office, collapsed; sending a plume of 100 year old plaster dust across the entire home.

As I looked above me, from the sofa, another section was about to drop on me. I had 24 hours to move out of half of my home, and 3 days left to move John out of his.

As a former set designer I didn't really give any of the packing and moving much thought, until I was waist deep in John's 5,000+ book collection. Preparing it for storage so that I could sort it all after my own home was back in order.

The day after first moving John's belongings to a storage facility, I had to move back into my place, even though they had only repaired half of the ceilings. I got in touch with the city building code enforcement and requested an emergency inspection to compel the owner to make the remaining necessary repairs to the entire property. I knew it was going to take some time, but not 3 months.

In the middle of all the moving I had a long standing dermatology appointment for a skin test. It come back positive for skin cancer, and I was immediately scheduled for a small surgical procedure to remove it from my chest. When I returned for my follow-up, and chest suture removal, they decided that we should also remove a small area below my lip. My lip being surgically cut without any numbing agent, is hands down one of the most traumatic moments of my life up until that point.

Meanwhile:

On April 10, while packing up my kitchen for more ceiling repairs, and moving appliances, I experienced a pop in my low back. It was quite painful, but I continued with packing and moving. Each week I started to lose some mobility, and getting in and out of chairs became quite painful.

I went to the Chiropractic Dr. and Acupuncture Dr.s, thinking it was just a muscle pain, and with some rest, it would resolve itself. In early May, it became apparent that the back pain and mobility was not resolving itself and something could actually be very wrong. My general doctor ordered an MRI. The MRI showed a herniated and bulging L4-L5 disc, with a tear in the disc and a fragment in the spinal column. Meaning, that I had an extreme narrowing of the spinal canal.

I was referred out to 3 different Orthepedic Spine specialists, and with each passing week, I lost more and more mobility. Waiting for "this" test or "that" appointment, and juggling different therapy modalities while trying to find someone who didn't want to just do back surgery. Up to this point I was still able to cook a little, feed my dogs, and get around the house, as I was still unpacking from my multi-stage moving process.

Then on May 31st I completely lost all feeling in both my legs while walking one block with my dogs. I've never been more frightened or felt more defeated in my life. For the next 2 days I timed my symptoms. Within 5 minutes of standing, excruciating pain would set it, and I then only had 5 more minutes before I would be forced to the ground and left with no feeling down either leg or foot. On June 4th I lost the ability to do any "self care", or the ability to take more than a few steps. A family member flew in that day and the plan was to go to the ER at Cedars.

On the way to the airport one of my clients referred me to a Dr. who works at a spine healing center, and she did a telemedicine call with me from the car. She explained that they have a technology that will begin to decompress my spinal column, and that I could fully heal without surgery.

I was able to begin treatment on June 5th, with what remaining balance I had in available credit. the entirety of the treatment I need to avoid surgery is not covered by any insurance. and the treatment itself is $16,500.

With all of my own money, time and energy poured into my business launch, there is no funding left for this treatment. I will need 12 weeks of therapy, 3 times a week, if I want to walk again without surgery.

I have been very blessed by family and clients during these last couple of months. The people that showed up for me has really helped me hold on to some hope. Some of those closest to me have encouraged me to open up and trust that the community of people I have poured my heart and soul into, could also lovingly help me in my time of need.

I wish with all my heart that you were reading about my amazing new project, and not my pain. I don't take the act of setting up this fundraiser lightly.

If I am honest I am crying while I type this......

But, looking back at the decade I spent with John, I must believe that his words are just as true now as 10 years ago. "Hope, if you don't open yourself to receive, you rob the gifter of the joy of giving."

~John Holmdahl

Thank you for any small gesture of kindness at this time, it doesn't have to just be financial. I also have an Amazon wish list if you prefer to send a cup of coffee, or some doggy treats. I have some educational digital products that are available online, and as I can I will be adding more and more opportunities to help beyond just this fundraising.

Thank you for supporting me with any resources you have available.

~Hope

Entheo Hope

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Amazon Wishes

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