Relief for Khang
Donation protected
Dear friends and family of Khang,
Your help is needed.
Khang is a devoted father of his son Blaise, a beloved husband to Deena, and a mentor and talk therapist to many.
During the week of 2/18/2020, Khang and his family's life changed rapidly. Khang lost motor strength and function on the left side of his body and was told he would have been a quadriplegic had he not undergone emergency surgery. This kind of news was devastating for not only Khang but also for his family Deena and their family.
HOW THIS HAPPENED:
Khang was taking a hot shower last Tuesday morning, and at the end of this shower he briefly changed it to cold water and at that moment his wife Deena heard him gasp in pain. He said he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his neck and immediately began feeling tingling to his left hand. Several minutes later he began to have tingling in his right foot. Deena monitored his symptoms for the rest of the day, and Khang noted that the pain was not being alleviated by over the counter pain medications and the tingling sensations became more pronounced. Khang did not want to have a medical assessment at that point, so, he rested the remainder of the day and night.
The following day, Deena went to work and had no updates from Khang regarding his symptoms until she returned home and saw him trying to get dressed to go to work. She watched him fumble around with the buttons on his shirt- he was now having difficulty with sensation, strength, and coordination of his hand and fingers. He was also walking with a limp.
FIRST ER VISIT:
Deena urged him to go to the ER, but he is so passionate about his work as a talk therapist that he refused to miss any sessions with his clients. He finally agreed to go to the ER after work and left Deena drive him. Khang and Deena arrived at the ER around 8:30pm and after having a CT of his neck done, they were told:
DIAGNOSIS: congenital/genetic narrowing of the spinal canal with degenerative changes of the neck as well- and it was explained to them that this is why he was having symptoms. They were sent home and told to follow up with a specialist. They secured a specialist appointment for 2 weeks later, but by the time Saturday rolled around, Khang had lost complete sensation and most of motor function and strength of his left hand. He was also having a real hard time waking and developed a lost of his ability to feel heat or cold on his body. The tingling and numbness had spread to his lower back and buttocks as well. Deena ultimately took him back to the ER after he started having difficulty having the strength to have a bowel movement.
SECOND ER VISIT: The ER physician who saw Khang ran a very extensive work up on Khang, including MRIs of his brain and entire spine. The MRI showed severe compression of his spinal cord in his neck and the neurosurgeon on call was paged immediately. Khang was told by the neurosurgeon that he needed surgery immediately or that he would become a quadriplegic very soon. As you can imagine, this kind of news was devastating for Khang and his family. The emotions that flood them were indescribable.
SUNDAY: Khang had a successful, but long 5 hour surgery. He had a herniated disc removed and replaced with an artificial metal disc. He had 4 of his neck vertebrae fused together.
2/24/2020: Khang was one day post operation and had many ups and downs. He gained a little strength back with his upper and lower body but was still very weak. Resting was difficult due to his pain and discomfort. Khang is a very strong person- physically and mentally, but this has definitely been a trying time for him.
2/25/2020: Khang had an excellent day this day. The warmth and sensation of his left hand returned, in addition to a significant improvement of muscle coordination and strength. He regained sensation in both feet and started to walk on his own. There were still a few setbacks which are keeping him from being discharged from the hospital. Khang's Post-Op Recap
As you know, Khang, is loved by many and tries his best to maintain a positive spirit. He is not one to say no when people ask for help and he himself strives to be selfless to help others. In fact, when he was experiencing all of these crazy symptoms, he could only focus on his patients and did not want to let them down.
He stretches himself beyond his abilities and our imagination to go out of the way to help others whether it's friend, colleague or community.
He has a loving kind-hearted wife, Deena and his young son Blaise who is still an infant.
Khang and his family depend on his paycheck to help provide for their day to day needs. The unexpected emergency surgery and the subsequent therapy for him is going take a severe financial toll.
This devastating news came at a time when Khang was trying to start his business to support his family and did not have insurance.
This fund is to assist his family through this period for short term recovery and long-term rehabilitation medical needs.
Please find it in your heart to help Khang and his family get past such a trying time. Any help you can give is greatly appreciated.
Your help is needed.
Khang is a devoted father of his son Blaise, a beloved husband to Deena, and a mentor and talk therapist to many.
During the week of 2/18/2020, Khang and his family's life changed rapidly. Khang lost motor strength and function on the left side of his body and was told he would have been a quadriplegic had he not undergone emergency surgery. This kind of news was devastating for not only Khang but also for his family Deena and their family.
HOW THIS HAPPENED:
Khang was taking a hot shower last Tuesday morning, and at the end of this shower he briefly changed it to cold water and at that moment his wife Deena heard him gasp in pain. He said he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his neck and immediately began feeling tingling to his left hand. Several minutes later he began to have tingling in his right foot. Deena monitored his symptoms for the rest of the day, and Khang noted that the pain was not being alleviated by over the counter pain medications and the tingling sensations became more pronounced. Khang did not want to have a medical assessment at that point, so, he rested the remainder of the day and night.
The following day, Deena went to work and had no updates from Khang regarding his symptoms until she returned home and saw him trying to get dressed to go to work. She watched him fumble around with the buttons on his shirt- he was now having difficulty with sensation, strength, and coordination of his hand and fingers. He was also walking with a limp.
FIRST ER VISIT:
Deena urged him to go to the ER, but he is so passionate about his work as a talk therapist that he refused to miss any sessions with his clients. He finally agreed to go to the ER after work and left Deena drive him. Khang and Deena arrived at the ER around 8:30pm and after having a CT of his neck done, they were told:
DIAGNOSIS: congenital/genetic narrowing of the spinal canal with degenerative changes of the neck as well- and it was explained to them that this is why he was having symptoms. They were sent home and told to follow up with a specialist. They secured a specialist appointment for 2 weeks later, but by the time Saturday rolled around, Khang had lost complete sensation and most of motor function and strength of his left hand. He was also having a real hard time waking and developed a lost of his ability to feel heat or cold on his body. The tingling and numbness had spread to his lower back and buttocks as well. Deena ultimately took him back to the ER after he started having difficulty having the strength to have a bowel movement.
SECOND ER VISIT: The ER physician who saw Khang ran a very extensive work up on Khang, including MRIs of his brain and entire spine. The MRI showed severe compression of his spinal cord in his neck and the neurosurgeon on call was paged immediately. Khang was told by the neurosurgeon that he needed surgery immediately or that he would become a quadriplegic very soon. As you can imagine, this kind of news was devastating for Khang and his family. The emotions that flood them were indescribable.
SUNDAY: Khang had a successful, but long 5 hour surgery. He had a herniated disc removed and replaced with an artificial metal disc. He had 4 of his neck vertebrae fused together.
2/24/2020: Khang was one day post operation and had many ups and downs. He gained a little strength back with his upper and lower body but was still very weak. Resting was difficult due to his pain and discomfort. Khang is a very strong person- physically and mentally, but this has definitely been a trying time for him.
2/25/2020: Khang had an excellent day this day. The warmth and sensation of his left hand returned, in addition to a significant improvement of muscle coordination and strength. He regained sensation in both feet and started to walk on his own. There were still a few setbacks which are keeping him from being discharged from the hospital. Khang's Post-Op Recap
As you know, Khang, is loved by many and tries his best to maintain a positive spirit. He is not one to say no when people ask for help and he himself strives to be selfless to help others. In fact, when he was experiencing all of these crazy symptoms, he could only focus on his patients and did not want to let them down.
He stretches himself beyond his abilities and our imagination to go out of the way to help others whether it's friend, colleague or community.
He has a loving kind-hearted wife, Deena and his young son Blaise who is still an infant.
Khang and his family depend on his paycheck to help provide for their day to day needs. The unexpected emergency surgery and the subsequent therapy for him is going take a severe financial toll.
This devastating news came at a time when Khang was trying to start his business to support his family and did not have insurance.
This fund is to assist his family through this period for short term recovery and long-term rehabilitation medical needs.
Please find it in your heart to help Khang and his family get past such a trying time. Any help you can give is greatly appreciated.
Organizer and beneficiary
Megan Lawlor
Organizer
Round Rock, TX
Khang Dong
Beneficiary