CARTILAGE TRANSPLANT AND TIBIAL OSTEOTOMY!

Hello! My name is Ellie and I am a professional dancer and actor in Chicago. I have been working through a knee injury for the last couple of years and have already had one reconstructive surgery to try and fix the problem. I now am going into my second surgery which is much more extensive than the first. Because of my current mobility problems, I struggle with daily household chores such as laundry, cleaning, and grocery shopping. I also struggle majorly with stairs and am in pain frequently. If everything goes okay, this next surgery should have me relatively pain free and able to live my life independently and do everything I love! The surgical plan is to do a cartilage transplant and an osteotomy which basically means they are going to cut through my tibia and align it differently so it can better support my knee. They are also hoping to extract some of my stem cells and then inject them into the transplant site to help it heal and take better but that is an extra $3000 out of pocket. My team of doctors is amazing and I am hopeful that this will be the last surgery before I am on the road to recovery and dancing again. I’m very lucky to have amazing friends and family supporting me during all of this and there is no way I would have made it this far without them. That being said, surgery, recovery, and all the time and supplies that it requires are very expensive. I still have medical bills piled up from the last surgery along with the need for a $200 icing machine, a special knee pillow, a new brace, and being able to take the time off work I need to recover. I am lucky enough to be working full time right now to help with expenses but it doesn’t come close to covering everything. I am so incredibly grateful to everyone that was able to help before my last surgery and will appreciate anything to help for the upcoming journey. Anything and everything helps and is so appreciated!! If you are unable to donate please consider sharing the link and sending good vibes my way surgery day! Thanks for everything and I’m so grateful.