Help for Karyn through surgery & recovery
Donation protected
Hello,
I am writing this for my best friend, Karyn, who has been suffering with back and neck pain for most of her adult life.
It is caused by degenerative disc disease, and she is currently in need of a 5th spinal surgery. If she's lucky it will only take one procedure, but may take two.
She currently has one disc that is pressing into her spinal cord causing compressive Myelopathy, which is causing her to lose feeling and function in her arms and legs due to the spinal cord damage along with the excrutiating pain caused by the spinal instability and nerve compression.
She will also need revision surgery on at least four previously fused vertebrae, totaling 7-8 levels between both parts along with chronic, currently inoperable, lower back pain caused by a previous lumbar fusion.
In addition to these spinal issues, she is also suffering from Fibromyalgia, and chronic bladder and kidney issues.
She cannot sit or stand for very long, or even walk for more than about 10 minutes at a time. Because of this she is currently unable to work, and has applied for disability as advised by her team of doctors.
She is currently awaiting a date for her surgery(ies), which should be scheduled during her next appointment(s) with a neurosurgeon in Phoenix at the end of this month. While there are risks to this, surgery will give her the best chance of being able to return to work full-time, sometime in the future. She is currently waiting on disability, which can take months, or longer, to be approved. She is only in the first few months of the application process. She has exhausted her savings, as well as any 401k money she had, on her numerous medical expenses, as well as keeping a roof over her head.
She needs help to get her through until disability is approved, or, god willing, she can go back to work at least part-time after recovery from the surgery (which can take 8-12 months of physical therapy to accomplish). She's estimating about $16,000 to pay for housing, food, day to day and travel expenses, as her surgery/treatment will be done at the Barrows Neurological Institute in Phoenix, AZ, and multiple appointments/follow ups will be required.
Thank you so much in advance. If you're moved to give, any amount helps! If you're unable to donate, please help by sharing! It's greatly appreciated!
I am writing this for my best friend, Karyn, who has been suffering with back and neck pain for most of her adult life.
It is caused by degenerative disc disease, and she is currently in need of a 5th spinal surgery. If she's lucky it will only take one procedure, but may take two.
She currently has one disc that is pressing into her spinal cord causing compressive Myelopathy, which is causing her to lose feeling and function in her arms and legs due to the spinal cord damage along with the excrutiating pain caused by the spinal instability and nerve compression.
She will also need revision surgery on at least four previously fused vertebrae, totaling 7-8 levels between both parts along with chronic, currently inoperable, lower back pain caused by a previous lumbar fusion.
In addition to these spinal issues, she is also suffering from Fibromyalgia, and chronic bladder and kidney issues.
She cannot sit or stand for very long, or even walk for more than about 10 minutes at a time. Because of this she is currently unable to work, and has applied for disability as advised by her team of doctors.
She is currently awaiting a date for her surgery(ies), which should be scheduled during her next appointment(s) with a neurosurgeon in Phoenix at the end of this month. While there are risks to this, surgery will give her the best chance of being able to return to work full-time, sometime in the future. She is currently waiting on disability, which can take months, or longer, to be approved. She is only in the first few months of the application process. She has exhausted her savings, as well as any 401k money she had, on her numerous medical expenses, as well as keeping a roof over her head.
She needs help to get her through until disability is approved, or, god willing, she can go back to work at least part-time after recovery from the surgery (which can take 8-12 months of physical therapy to accomplish). She's estimating about $16,000 to pay for housing, food, day to day and travel expenses, as her surgery/treatment will be done at the Barrows Neurological Institute in Phoenix, AZ, and multiple appointments/follow ups will be required.
Thank you so much in advance. If you're moved to give, any amount helps! If you're unable to donate, please help by sharing! It's greatly appreciated!
Organiser and beneficiary
June B Johnson
Organiser
Rio Rancho, NM
Karyn Barlow
Beneficiary