- S
My name is Jack, and I'm a father of two young boys whom I love dearly. I worked as a public high school teacher for 15 years and loved it, but an injury on the job has left me unable to work. I am now at the point where I may soon be forced to move away from my sons, and it breaks my heart.
In May 2007 an extremely brutal fight broke out in my classroom, and when I attempted to intervene , among other injuries, one of the two students picked me up and threw me across the room to the floor. Officers came in shortly after and took the students out of the room, and I thought I was fine, though definitely banged up a bit. I went home and rested that night, but the next morning I took two steps and hit the floor: I was in unbearable pain and unable to walk. The young man had crushed three discs in my spine. A little over two and a half years and 13 procedures later ended with having an "Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion" - a fancy way of saying that I have rods, screws, titanium cages, and cadaver implants in my lower spine. It was so severe that the surgeons had to go in through my abdomen from the front, lay my organs outside my body, and literally hammer and chisel out the damaged material from the inner part of my back. I was on medical leave for almost 8 months.
My surgeon was phenomenal, and I can walk now, but the damage was so severe that I have permanent nerve damage in my lower back and left leg. I am always in pain, though the level varies. After continuing to work for 7 years after the initial injury, I have reached a point where I can not stand for any length of time, cannot walk long distances, cannot sit for any length of time, and can't even sleep much - as whenever I move the slightest bit to get comfortable, I feel a nerve pinch and am awakened by the pain. I simply can't find a position that doesn't hurt.
My spinal surgeon says that he's done all he can do, and I will be in pain for the rest of my life.
I didn't sue the school - at the time, I thought it was best for my students not to take more funds from a county that was already faltering (typical teacher, I guess, thinking of the students first). Besides, the county agreed to cover initial medical fees and I got lots of "We'll take care of you" sentiments, though none in writing. Since I waited over two years, I can no longer make a claim.
As if that weren't enough, in 2010 I had the first of 15 eye surgeries for a bizarre series of retinal detachments in both eyes. I am now completely blind in my right eye, though an excellent retinal surgeon has helped me maintain almost 20/40 vision in my left eye.
I am thankful and grateful to still have as much vision and mobility as I do, but the fact is my level of pain and lack of mobility has left me unable to work. I filed for disability, which I'm told I will eventually receive, but it has been over 17 months and my retirement savings, as small as it was, has been completely used. I am at imminent risk of becoming homeless, I have unpaid medical bills for my vision, have no insurance, and will be unable to support my children in less than a month. I found out last week that my disability hearing is at least 14 months away!
I may be asking for too little, to be honest: my goal is to be able to pay rent and utilities for at least a few months.
I resisted coming to Go Fund Me for a long time, because I'm so used to pulling my own weight, but I'm no longer in a position to do so. I have gotten to a point where I'm desperate for help. Any help will be greatly appreciated by both me and my sons.
Thank you!
In May 2007 an extremely brutal fight broke out in my classroom, and when I attempted to intervene , among other injuries, one of the two students picked me up and threw me across the room to the floor. Officers came in shortly after and took the students out of the room, and I thought I was fine, though definitely banged up a bit. I went home and rested that night, but the next morning I took two steps and hit the floor: I was in unbearable pain and unable to walk. The young man had crushed three discs in my spine. A little over two and a half years and 13 procedures later ended with having an "Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion" - a fancy way of saying that I have rods, screws, titanium cages, and cadaver implants in my lower spine. It was so severe that the surgeons had to go in through my abdomen from the front, lay my organs outside my body, and literally hammer and chisel out the damaged material from the inner part of my back. I was on medical leave for almost 8 months.
My surgeon was phenomenal, and I can walk now, but the damage was so severe that I have permanent nerve damage in my lower back and left leg. I am always in pain, though the level varies. After continuing to work for 7 years after the initial injury, I have reached a point where I can not stand for any length of time, cannot walk long distances, cannot sit for any length of time, and can't even sleep much - as whenever I move the slightest bit to get comfortable, I feel a nerve pinch and am awakened by the pain. I simply can't find a position that doesn't hurt.
My spinal surgeon says that he's done all he can do, and I will be in pain for the rest of my life.
I didn't sue the school - at the time, I thought it was best for my students not to take more funds from a county that was already faltering (typical teacher, I guess, thinking of the students first). Besides, the county agreed to cover initial medical fees and I got lots of "We'll take care of you" sentiments, though none in writing. Since I waited over two years, I can no longer make a claim.
As if that weren't enough, in 2010 I had the first of 15 eye surgeries for a bizarre series of retinal detachments in both eyes. I am now completely blind in my right eye, though an excellent retinal surgeon has helped me maintain almost 20/40 vision in my left eye.
I am thankful and grateful to still have as much vision and mobility as I do, but the fact is my level of pain and lack of mobility has left me unable to work. I filed for disability, which I'm told I will eventually receive, but it has been over 17 months and my retirement savings, as small as it was, has been completely used. I am at imminent risk of becoming homeless, I have unpaid medical bills for my vision, have no insurance, and will be unable to support my children in less than a month. I found out last week that my disability hearing is at least 14 months away!
I may be asking for too little, to be honest: my goal is to be able to pay rent and utilities for at least a few months.
I resisted coming to Go Fund Me for a long time, because I'm so used to pulling my own weight, but I'm no longer in a position to do so. I have gotten to a point where I'm desperate for help. Any help will be greatly appreciated by both me and my sons.
Thank you!