Help with My Essential Surgery

Greetings family, friends and compassionate supporters! My name is Rick Cohan, and I am reaching out to you today with a heartfelt plea for your generosity and assistance. As some of you may know, I have been battling Hip Perthes disease since the tender age of five. Now, at forty-five years old, I am on the brink of undergoing a life-changing total hip replacement surgery. Over the past few years, the pain, in my now one hundred percent arthritic hip, has become too much to handle. I humbly ask for your support in this journey toward a pain-free existence, where I can regain my mobility and rediscover the joy of living. BACKGROUND: Hip Perthes disease has been a constant companion throughout my life, causing chronic pain and hindering my ability to engage in everyday activities. This condition occurs when the blood supply to the femoral head is disrupted, leading to its gradual deterioration. When this happened to me, I spent nine months trapped in a hospital in traction!!! Most of the 2nd grade was spent in that hospital room. The only time I could get out of bed was to take a bath, which I milked every minute, begging for more time out of that bed! After being paroled from the hospital, I was then placed in a doubled-legged brace for the next 18 months!!! If you think Forrest Gump had it bad, take a look at the picture of my mid-evil contraption!! From one prison to another. After getting released from the braces life went on, but with every step the pain got more intense. LIFE WITH PAIN: Living with pain has been an arduous journey, both physically and emotionally. As strong of a front that I put on for family and friends, I was hurting just as much. Simple tasks like walking, climbing stairs and even sitting for long periods had become excruciating challenges. Despite the setbacks, I participated, to the best of my limited ability, in many activities. I even worked my way to receiving a scholarship to play golf for a Div I school. All that time, I never lost hope and continued searching for solutions that could alleviate my suffering. TOTAL HIP REPLACEMENT SURGERY: After consulting with numerous medical professionals and undergoing extensive evaluations, I have received a glimmer of hope - a total hip replacement surgery. I have teamed up with world-renowned hip replacement specialist, Dr. Edward Salvati at New York's Hospital for Special Surgery. This procedure involves replacing the damaged joint with an artificial implant, providing much-needed relief from pain and restoring mobility. While it is an invasive and costly procedure, it presents the best chance for me to regain a pain-free life and enjoy activities I have long yearned for. The team at HSS will give me the best chance to make this dream a reality. THE NEED FOR YOUR SUPPORT: Here is where your support becomes crucial. The financial burden associated with total hip replacement surgery is significant. The cost encompasses the procedure itself, hospital stays, medications, physical therapy and post-operative care. Not to mention the fact that I will be out of work for three to four months!! As I prepare for this life-changing surgery, I find myself grappling with the financial implications, which have become an overwhelming obstacle on my path to recovery. Your generous contributions through this GoFundMe campaign with help alleviate the financial strain and ensure that I can undergo the surgery without compromising my long-term financial stability. Your support will empower me to embark on a pain-free journey, where I can rediscover the activities (playing golf) I have yearned for and reclaim my independence. IMPACT OF YOUR DONATION: Your contribution, regardless of its size, will have a profound impact on my life. It will enable me to: 1) Access the best medical expertise and technology 2) Cover pre- and post-operative expenses: Funding will aid in covering costs associated with hospital stays, medications, physical therapy & post-operative care, facilitating a smooth recovery process. 3) Regain mobility and quality of life: With your help, I can look forward to walking pain-free, engaging in physical activities, and experiencing the simple joys in life that I have long been deprived of. CONCLUSION: In my forty-five-long battle with Hip Perthes disease, I have never ceased to dream of what life would be like without pain. Today, I stand on the threshold of a new chapter, one that promises freedom from suffering and the chance to live life in a way I never have been able to before. Your support through this GoFundMe campaign will help me take this life-changing leap and rewrite my story. THANK YOU for considering my plea and for your unwavering compassion. Together, we can turn this dream into a reality! Your generosity will not only impact my life but will also serve as a strong reminder of the goodness of other people! Thank you again for any help! Sincerely, Richard Cohan Jr.