Fundraiser for Trudy Metzger's back surgery
In 2019, Trudy Metzger was rear-ended at around 75 mph, sustaining some serious injuries. Whiplash resulted in Post-Concussion Syndrome which caused vision loss that required 1.5 years of vision therapy, as well as severe damage to the cervical and lumbar spine, a torn rotary cuff, and tears in her wrists, to name some of the injuries. Since the accident, her spine has progressively deteriorated from these injuries; spinal cord compression, severe left cervical spine foraminal narrowing, and multiple bulging discs in both lumbar and cervical spine, which are compressing nerve roots. A recent nerve conduction test showed damage to nerves supplying Trudy’s left arm, as a result of pinched nerve roots in her cervical spine, causing limited use of left arm and hand, and resulting in atrophied muscles in left shoulder, shoulder blade, and arm. The lumbar deterioration has become so severe that at times she can only shuffle-walk for days at a time, and spends these days almost completely debilitated and in bed. She suffers from severe ongoing nerve pain due to pinched nerves, as well as numbness and tingling in affected areas. Her GP and Orthopaedic Surgeon have told her surgery is the only option for correcting the damage and preventing further deterioration. Without surgery, over time, her prognosis is paralysis in the affected areas.
Some months ago, a woman who had experienced similar injuries told Trudy of a Doctor in France who changed her life through spine surgery. Trudy reached out to the specialist and, after reviewing her images, recommended multi-level disc replacement surgery in both lumbar and cervical spine, as well as opening the foramina in the cervical spine. This surgery is not readily available in Canada at this time, not to mention a several-year waitlist just to speak with a spine surgeon. The specialist in France has scheduled Trudy for surgery the end of January 2024.
This opening feels like a big answer to prayer but comes at significant cost – costing over $100K – due to the multi-level repair that needs to be done. The funds raised will go directly to help cover the cost of Trudy’s surgery. Any funds exceeding costs will go to charities supporting victims of abuse in religious communities.
On behalf of Tim and Trudy, thank you so much for caring and giving! Your monetary gifts are an immense blessing!
Please pray for everything to come together, and for a successful surgery so that Trudy can return to the work she loves – supporting victims of sexual abuse – and complete her PhD.