Help With Medical Costs & Keep Kristy On Her Feet
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In December of 2018, our friend, Kristy Byers, experienced a serious health crisis. An open skin wound became septic, resulting in a hospitalization that included multiple near fatal respiratory failures and 57 days in the hospital and rehab.
When Kristy returned home, she found herself unemployed and faced months of continued health challenges with no medical insurance. The open wound that nearly killed her was slow to heal in part due to several underlying health issues, including diabetes and severe pain in her back and lower extremities.
The onset of the pandemic and difficult recovery made finding full-time employment impossible, particularly as the back pain developed into further weakness and mobility issues. As she became unable to perform simple activities, such as grocery shopping, etc. without the use of a cane, a friend in healthcare suggested her symptoms seemed serious enough to consult with an orthopedic surgeon.
Kristy has now been diagnosed with a spinal compression that her doctor believes is genetic. He has advised that unless neck and spinal surgeries (she is facing 2 – 3 procedures) happen soon that she may eventually experience paralysis.
The first surgery, which will be on her neck and must be performed before the spinal surgeries, will cost approximately $100,000 for the procedure alone. She has applied for compassionate care from the hospital, but even if this is approved, she will have to come up with a minimum of $30,000 to pay for her portion.
Subsequent surgeries must be performed at MUSC, and those cannot take place until 3-6 months after the neck surgery. They come with an additional price tag of up to or in excess of $400,000. The first surgery will leave her in a neck brace for several months. She will not be able to work as she will have to have the more serious spinal surgery as soon as she recovers from the neck surgery.
Kristy would be the first to testify to the way God has met her needs in the past couple of years as friends and church support have helped with groceries, utility bills, gas for her car, etc. Unfortunately, the financial burden of these surgeries will be much greater than any seen before. Her continued inability to work has also put her in dire danger of losing her home to foreclosure. Please help today by making a gift of any amount to keep Kristy on her feet! Thank you!
When Kristy returned home, she found herself unemployed and faced months of continued health challenges with no medical insurance. The open wound that nearly killed her was slow to heal in part due to several underlying health issues, including diabetes and severe pain in her back and lower extremities.
The onset of the pandemic and difficult recovery made finding full-time employment impossible, particularly as the back pain developed into further weakness and mobility issues. As she became unable to perform simple activities, such as grocery shopping, etc. without the use of a cane, a friend in healthcare suggested her symptoms seemed serious enough to consult with an orthopedic surgeon.
Kristy has now been diagnosed with a spinal compression that her doctor believes is genetic. He has advised that unless neck and spinal surgeries (she is facing 2 – 3 procedures) happen soon that she may eventually experience paralysis.
The first surgery, which will be on her neck and must be performed before the spinal surgeries, will cost approximately $100,000 for the procedure alone. She has applied for compassionate care from the hospital, but even if this is approved, she will have to come up with a minimum of $30,000 to pay for her portion.
Subsequent surgeries must be performed at MUSC, and those cannot take place until 3-6 months after the neck surgery. They come with an additional price tag of up to or in excess of $400,000. The first surgery will leave her in a neck brace for several months. She will not be able to work as she will have to have the more serious spinal surgery as soon as she recovers from the neck surgery.
Kristy would be the first to testify to the way God has met her needs in the past couple of years as friends and church support have helped with groceries, utility bills, gas for her car, etc. Unfortunately, the financial burden of these surgeries will be much greater than any seen before. Her continued inability to work has also put her in dire danger of losing her home to foreclosure. Please help today by making a gift of any amount to keep Kristy on her feet! Thank you!
Organizer and beneficiary
Debbie G
Organizer
Rock Hill, SC
Kristy Byers
Beneficiary