Help Jan Recover From Spinal Surgery

In late March 2022, I woke up on a Saturday morning and couldn't walk without debilitating pain down the backs of both of my legs. After an expensive trip to the emergency room, they got no answers. Over a few days, the location and type of pain shifted, and by Monday, I could not walk without extreme pain and the help of a cane. I couldn't lay on my back, stomach, or left side, couldn't sit, and couldn't walk for more than a few minutes because of the intense pain. My work began to pile up.

 

When I finally saw my PCP, she was concerned the issue was in my spine. She sent a "stat" request for an MRI, but Molina took two weeks to respond. When I finally saw the nuerosurgeon I learned that several discs had slipped out of alignment, and one of them had ruptured and filled my spinal canal, already narrowed by stenosis. The materials were pressing on two nerve roots, causing pain, numbness, and weakness in my left leg. This is called "drop foot" and can be permanently disabling without immediate treatment. The neurosurgeon called the injury catastrophic and scheduled immediate surgery. I had three days to prepare. Work assignments had piled up over the previous month. I ordered groceries, hired a cleaning service, and ordered several tools to help make my life more accessible during surgery recovery. I did not have a care companion and had to make sure I'd be able to do average things during my recovery. 

 

Surgery has been successful so far, but my savings is gone. I had to release several writing assignments to prioritize healing. I haven't been able to teach yoga since March, which composed 1/3 of their monthly income. Compounding this, I had just gotten on my feet again after being fired from a yoga studio I managed and taught at due to discrimination (I was fired for bringing up the subject of pronouns on an internal server). This diminished any previous savings, contributing to my current financial strain.

 

The recovery time for my surgery is 8-10 weeks. I cannot lift anything for that time, nor can I sit for long periods.

 

I also received a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis last autumn. For surgery, I went off my immunisuppressants.

Unfortunately, stress exacerbates the progression and pain associated with rheumatoid arthritis, a degenerative disease where the immune system attacks synovial fluid, the substance that cushions and protects our joints.

 

One of the biggest reasons I need help is because I am moving across the country to begin my studies as a PhD candidate in creative writing at Florida State University. My anxious, high-needs rescue cat, Edna, is coming with me. This is an expensive move that I had hoped to save for. As it is, I cannot afford a moving truck and am palnning to sell the majority of my things. In all honestly, I have very few things that would garner much money. I have to buy a new battery for my ancient Prius ($1700) and equip it with new tires, and anything else the mechanic says is needed. I also need to buy supplies for my cat and stay in pet-friendly hotels.

 

My book is coming out in late summer 2023, yet I've been unable to dedicate time to revisions, which were supposed to be turned in by June 20th. The new due date for revisions is late July. I begin online classes for my PhD program on June 20th. These classes are unpaid and will decrease the time I can work on my assignments and book.

 

I am overwhelmed and stressed out.

 

The good news is that once I get to Florida I'll have less expensive health insurance, a teaching stipend, and a less expensive cost of living due to leaving Seattle, where my rent is currently $1350, not including utilities. I pay $520 a month out of pocket for health insurance. My projected income for this month (May) is $2000.

 

The total sum (so far) of medical bills is over $4000. This is after having paid some of them already. This doesn't include the acupuncture, physical therapy, and medical bills accrued before surgery. Jan has applied for financial relief from two medical institutions and been denied due to not living below the poverty line according to 2021 tax returns.

 

I know that everyone has a lot going on in their own lives and appreciate anything you can contribute to this.