Help Ellie Get Hip Surgery & a Wheelchair to Regain Mobility

Hi, I’m Ellie. I write for video games. And this is still really hard to write.

Last week, after 10 months of uncertainty, I finally got my surgery date for my labral hip repair. Fifteen minutes later, I was laid off from my dream job at Monolith Productions due to the closure of our studio.

The grief process of losing the studio we call home hit all of us hard. Navigating that with a looming surgery date and a long recovery hit hard too. Quite simply, I can’t do this one on my own.

I have congenital hip dysplasia. In layman’s terms, the top of my femur is shaped less like a doorknob and more like a club. Over 34 years, it has chipped away at the lip of my hip socket and resulted in a tear of the cartilage. This was missed in multiple X-rays over the years, but an MRI in January finally caught it.

It feels like a hot coal buried in my hip joint - and that fire never goes out. Over the past year it has dramatically impacted my mobility and quality of life. Some days, all I can do is write from my bed. It’s hard to admit how that’s become my new normal.

Due to my limited mobility, I’ve had to miss weddings, college graduations, and countless gatherings. It impacts the daily, small interactions too. Walking to the neighborhood coffee shops, date nights with my spouse, going out to meet up with friends. I’ve had to give up rock-climbing, hiking, and volunteering opportunities that were central to my identity, like the CA Program.

I rarely leave the house and am unable to walk more than a block without pain. I use a cane, but it’s become clear that is no longer enough. Overcompensation from my upper body resulted in me dislocating a rib in January.

It’s time to get real and recognize that I need a hand.

With a wheelchair, and labral repair surgery, I would get my life back.

If I hold off on either, I’m at risk of requiring a labral reconstruction. In other words, if I damage my leg further, I will need a more extensive surgery where my labral cartilage is removed and cadaver donor tissue is grafted onto my hip.

Surgery Details

During the surgery, they will reshape the head of my femur to reduce further wear to my cartilage, and suture and reattach my torn labrum.

Cost Breakdown:

I am raising funds to cover these expenses

The Surgery

The Recovery

The Wheels

With your help I can finally have the surgery, wheelchair, and recovery I need to regain my mobility and improve my quality of life. Whether or not you are able to donate at this time, I hope you'll consider sharing this campaign with others.

♥️ Ellie