Help Josh Weis to receive Stem Cell Therapy

Josh sustained a back injury in 2014, and his first L5-S1 spine surgery took place. The surgery was unsuccessful, leaving him with chronic pain and damaged nerves. A second surgery was performed shortly after his first, with hopes of giving him some relief. The second surgery was even more damaging causing a laundry list of problems and complications. Living in severe pain, with a restricted range of motion, and limited mobility for many years was taking its toll. Many medications were tried, and various therapies were done, but nothing seemed to help. In 2018 Josh was presented with an opportunity to get an electronic nerve stimulation implant. The device was designed to provide relief for those living with chronic pain. There were a lot of success stories, and everyone felt very hopeful…. this is the thing that is finally going to give Josh his life back. It was devastating when it didn’t. The stimulator never worked for him as promised and caused more harm than good. His body was also rejecting the implant and the useless hunk of metal sat inside his back for 5 years making him sick until it was removed this year. Josh continues to live a life of severe pain, with limited mobility. The hospital has become his second home and rehab is his third. He has even spent time in nursing homes when his condition became unmanageable on 3 separate occasions. Unable to function, walk, or even think from being in pain, he has missed out on so much of his life. He has done every treatment, and every therapy, and has seen dozens of doctors from all over the US in search of a cure, and they have all told him the same thing…sorry, there’s nothing we can do for you. Until now. Shortly after his implant removal, he landed back in the hospital in severe pain, unable to walk. Imaging was done and bad news was received. The L5-S1 disc has deteriorated, and the joint was separated, causing bone on bone grinding and damaging to the main nerve. Surgery was again, necessary. However, this bad news came with a glimmer of hope. A new kind of therapy was recently being used (mostly by the NFL), and Josh was a great candidate. His surgeon explained the program which consisted of various new cutting-edge medical technology and treatments including stem cell therapy. He explained that if Josh is ever going to have the ability to live a normal and functioning life, without constant pain this is the treatment that would be able to provide that life. Of course, it would come with a cost that no insurance covers, there is no other way for him to receive it other than a large out-of-pocket expense. If we can all help lessen this financial burden, we can give Josh this opportunity to help get his life back. He can not only watch his little boy grow up, but he could walk beside him and be an active part of his life. It has been almost 10 years that Josh has been living this way. He is only 40 and has many years ahead of him. Let’s make them count.