Help Sarah Gore Overcome Slipping Rib Syndrome

Hello, my name is Natalie Mclin from Savannah, TN. I wanted to start this page for my good sister-friend, Sarah Gore. She goes above and beyond for her community. Her passion is to help and she can’t do that without help from all of us. She will be starting a long journey of surgeries and recoveries, but only after years of searching for a diagnosis. It took some convincing, but I talked her into doing her own write up. I can hardly comprehend all she has researched. You will understand if you take only 2 minutes to read her story. It’s sadly fascinating. I knew she would know all the details of her diagnosis and surgery and what would be helpful for her during this time. If you can give $1 she would be grateful but mainly share this story. Slipping Rib Syndrome is a painful debilitating syndrome. Awareness! That’s a big deal! Insurance companies don’t want to pay so we need to get the word out. Please pray for Sarah and her family. They all have a long road ahead of them.

“ As we work to create light for others, we naturally light our own way.” -Mary Anne Radmacher

Hi, my name is Sarah Gore and hesitantly I am here to try and raise $20,000 to help relieve some of the financial burden off my family as I start my surgical journey repairing a complex set of thoracic issues. I am having thoracic surgery number 1 of 3 on December 4th, 2024. I will be traveling and staying in Bridgeport, West Virginia with my caregiver December 2nd - 11th. Somethings I seek relief from includes, but are not limited to: gas for traveling to and from Bridgeport, WV (645 miles one way), gas while there during our stay, the hotel stay for 9 nights (booked $1488.19), food and necessities for myself and caregiver during stay, specific items that will be needed during my recovery process in West Virginia, specific medial items needed for recovery and self care at home, specific type garments that I will have to wear, relief of normal bills and groceries during my time off work (minimum of 6 weeks, but 2nd surgery is minimum 12 weeks from 1st), and cost of an insurance non-covered CPT code. I just found out this past week that one of the 3 CPT codes that will be billed to insurance (CPT 21811- Open Reduction and Internal Fixation of Ribs) will not be covered. After many phone calls back and forth between insurance, doctors office, and myself the only choice I have to keep my surgery date of December 4th is to pay $6,753.20 by November the 15th. Once the procedure is complete and billed to insurance, I can file an appeal with the insurance company, but have been told from both the doctor's office and insurance that it is unlikely because it is considered investigational. I WILL fight the insurance company.

This past March 21st, because our daughter was born with Down syndrome I led a successful World Down Syndrome Day campaign to help raise awareness and advocate for those with not just Down syndrome, but for special needs in general. I organized a countywide fundraiser with the help of some amazing people and businesses. All funds were being donated to Special Education. We were happy to present our superintendent checks totaling over $7,100 to be used for our local Special Education. I am heartbroken that I will not be able to do it again this upcoming year due to being in the middle of a trio of surgeries and recoveries.

Now I am reluctantly gonna try to do the same for myself and my family. I’m reaching out to you for help as I prepare for this complex and challenging medical journey that will span over the next year. On December 4th, 2024, I’m scheduled for the first of three surgeries necessary to treat a severe condition called slipping rib syndrome (SRS), alongside other complications with my rib cage and thoracic skeleton. My surgeon, Dr. Adam Hansen, is not only one of only a few surgeons in the country that can diagnose, treat, and surgically repair my condition, but is also the pioneer of the surgical technique and is the leading expert in this field. He is located 10 hours away in Bridgeport, West Virginia.

This journey has already affected my quality of life and placed an overwhelming financial burden on my family. I have been seeking out a diagnosis and answers as to why I was experiencing so much nerve pain, muscle spasms and feeling things that I knew were not normal. In 3.5 years I have had 7 different providers/specialists, 9 different radiology tests, and 3 actual procedures in search of answers. I had basically diagnosed myself 1.5 years ago and finally got to my breaking point and knew I had to go see Dr. Hansen.

I traveled to West Virginia this past August for a diagnosis after almost 4 years of searching for answers, and now I am preparing for my first surgery. This surgery will involve left costal cartilage excision(s) for nerve decompression and costal margin reconstruction, which entails using the excised problematic cartilage as autograft interposition spacers between the affected ribs to prevent further nerve impingement and placement of a bioabsorbable on lay plating to support the construct as it heals. As well as a partial excision of my left 12th rib. By correcting the above issues that include slipped ribs, damaged rib cartilage, and compression of nerves, it would have a positive and significant effect on my quality of life.

The following in an insert from Dr. Hansen’s Patient Consult Notes from my visit in August:

Disrupted bilateral 9th and 10th rib cartilages from the costal arches have caused hypermobility of the ribs and constant, repetitive trauma to the 8th, 9th, and 10th intercostal nerves. This has resulted in chronic pain from severe slipped rib syndrome. Also has bilateral 12th rib syndrome and left L1 syndrome from deformed angulation of the 12th ribs. Has a moderately symptomatic left 5-6th anterior bridging cartilage disruption. Has a deformed, painful xiphoid. This complex set of thoracic skeletal problems has left the patient essentially debilitated and has significantly worsened her quality of life. We discussed the options of conservative management, costal cartilage excision, sutured open reduction/internal fixation of the fractured rib tips to the costal margins, and complex reconstruction of the involved costal margins. I explained that the reconstruction usually entails one or more costal cartilage excisions for nerve decompression, use of the excised cartilage as autograft interposition spacers to separate the involved ribs, and bioabsorbable on lay plating to support the construct as it heals. Also discussed bilateral subtotal 12th rib excisions, with associated risks and benefits. I counseled that I cannot guarantee a fully acceptable outcome, but that I strongly believe it will result in very satisfactory results. As she has so many correctable issues, it is not feasible to perform all in one setting. We discussed performing unilateral 12th rib excision and costal margin reconstruction, followed by the same on the other side a few months later. We can later reassess the xiphoid and bridging cartilage symptoms to determine if a 3rd operation is necessary. She wishes to begin with the left side.

Plan:

Scheduled for left costal cartilage excision(s) and costal margin reconstruction, as well as subtotal left 12th rib excision. Explained the risks, including infection, bleeding, prolonged chest tube placement, prolonged intubation, postoperative arrhythmia, cardiac complications, death, conversion to open, severe injury, pneumothorax, failure of repair, wound complication, persistent or worsened pain, and nerve injury.

I spent 70 minutes examining and counseling the patient regarding treatment options.

Adam J Hansen, MD 8/9/2024,13:15

Dr. Hansen and I discussed various surgical options, but because my condition is so complex, we have to take a staged approach. The first surgery, scheduled for December 4th, will focus on the left side, where I’ll undergo a left costal cartilage excision, subtotal 12th rib excision, and costal margin reconstruction. This is just the first of three surgeries I will need over the next year, as Dr. Hansen and his team work to repair the damage caused by years of rib deformity and slipped rib syndrome.

As a mother to a wonderful “almost” 7-year-old daughter with Down syndrome, I want to get my life back for myself and for my family. However, I simply cannot manage these overwhelming expenses on my own.

Any donation, no matter how small, would mean the world to me and my family. If you’re unable to donate, sharing my story would also help immensely.

Other ways to help if GoFundMe isn’t your thing: gift cards to local restaurants/ Walmart/ Kroger/ Shell Gas/ Amazon, supper for husband and daughter while I’m in West Virginia, supper during my recovery, gift cards to restaurants local to Bridgeport, West Virginia, if you want to Venmo @slg38372, or email e-gift cards and/or any questions to slippingribsurgerydonations

@gmail.com

Thank you so much for your time, your kindness, and your support.

Sincerely,

Sarah Gore

Learn more about Sarah's journey and the impact your support can make. Click the link below to read her story and join us in making a difference!

https://flashlight.my.canva.site/dagvjo6gviw