Help For Roy's Surgery

Hello Family and Friends!

I am humbly asking for your help.

This past October, I was diagnosed with cervical myelopathy caused by severe cervical stenosis. In non-medical terms, the inside of the spinal canal in my neck has narrowed so much that it's severely compressing my spinal cord.

Nerve signals from my brain are getting blocked to my arms and legs. Because of that, my neck is stiff, both hands are extremely numb, and I have trouble walking. I've already tripped and fell down a few times. I now have to walk with a walker to keep me stable. Doctors say since there's no room for my spinal cord to move around, if I fall hard and severely bend my neck , I could become paralyzed.

After consulting with 3 different Neurosurgeons, I've decided to get major surgery to decompress the spinal cord from C2 to T1.

My surgery is scheduled for February 5th at UCSF. Estimated hospital stay is 4-5 days. After that, I'll be recovering at home for 6-12 weeks.

Here's how your donations will be used:

$3500 for lost wages - I will be taking an unpaid leave of absence from work for 3 months starting February 5th. This will help cover rent, utilities, and groceries. HR says I'm also responsible for paying my health insurance premiums during my leave.

$4000 for surgery procedure - This is an estimate from my insurance carrier for the just surgery itself. It does not include the nights I'm staying at the hospital.

$500  will go to GoFundMe fees

Everything after that or any amount made after the donation goal and will help pay for past medical visits. The past 4 months alone, I've been to the emergency room, had multiple visits with my primary doctor, 2nd opinion doctors, Rheumatologist, Endocrinologist, had 5 x-rays, a CT scan, 2 MRIs, and numerous blood tests. Needless to say, the medical bills piled up quickly by the end of last year, and I'm having difficulty trying to pay that in addition to rent and my regular bills.

I’ve always been hesitant to ask for help, but any contribution, whether big or small, will significantly help alleviate the burden of these medical bills. I am incredibly grateful for any assistance you can provide. Thank you for taking the time to read my story and for considering supporting me during this challenging period. The outpouring of love, support, and encouragement I’ve already received has been incredibly touching.

Roy