Larry's Recovery Fund

If you've met Larry then you know the incredible person he is. Please take a moment to read about his recovery needs. 

Larry had been experiencing severe neck pain in December of 2017 and it eventually took him down in the middle of the night on January 2nd 2018. He was in the bathroom when he collapsed and could not respond. He came to, only to get up and collapse an additional three times in a row. He was taken by ambulance to the hospital and kept in observation for two and a half days. There he went through a brain MRI, head CT,  labs, an EEG, and a spinal tap all to reveal nothing. Despite many pleas for a cervical MRI, one was not performed even though his neck pain was his primary focus of pain. The doctors diagnosed him with probable seizure and sent him home. He followed up with a neurologist a month later where he begged to have a cervical MRI ordered. The next week he had one done and the neurologist noted his report for arthritis. We were now at a dead end. I took the report to a coworker and he suggested having an appointment with a former colleague of his, a neurosurgeon. Two months later he had his first appointment and the doctor recommended conservative treatments first and go from there stating he would most likely need to do surgery. Larry went through physical therapy and a new medicine. He completed an EMG that showed moderate damage to his nerves but was reminded that it would be more severe and permanent if not corrected. None of the conservative approaches relieved the pain or the rapid loss of functions. The doctor determined that he would need a 4 level discectomy with fusion.

Larry had to have surgery for his deteriorating neck. As his pain progressed and his daily functions diminished being unable to work his regular income avenues, he no longer had a choice. His C3 through C7 disc's were taken out and he had ACDF surgery on 7/19/18. The surgeon stated that he had never seen a neck this badly diseased with degeneration. He had to stop surgery multiple times to reassess how to remove the disc's and the last two were beyond anything the MRI showed or indicated. He had bone on bone on the back of the neck and he told us that Larry was one blow away from being paralyzed and couldn't understand how he had been able to do as much as he has been let alone walking up to this point. 

Larry's loss of income for the past 7 months prior to surgery and no income for at least another 6 months after has put a financial burden on us. Coupled with his insurance that denied a portion of his observation stay in the hospital in January, he has maxed out his physical therapy benefits as well. He will require physical therapy for a while and will have to pay out of pocket for these visits up up front.

If you know us, you already know that he has been my loving and unwavering caretaker since I was struck down and now live with an autoimmune disease called CIDP four years ago. Prior to his rapid decline he took care of 100% of the household needs, supplemented the income and took care of me physically until he no longer could. I am unable to stand for periods of time without immense pain and fatigue, I am unable to do the chores of the house, grocery shopping, cleaning, etc, without having to rest for an entire day later. Even then nothing is completed or done. I work full time, but I am only able to as it's a desk job. 

It's with a humble heart that we ask for financial help. Not only to tackle the medical expenses and loss of income, but to ensure he has the recovery he desperately needs to avoid complications and future surgeries. 

We appreciate your consideration and any amount will be humbling. Thank you and God Bless