Kristen DeAndrade's Medical Bills

Kristen DeAndrade is a beloved kids yoga teacher, a talented writer and and a dedicated activist for people with disabilities (or as she aptly puts it, "different-abilities").  She is a woman on a mission to erase the boundaries of separation and change the way the world views "different".  

And today she needs our help.  Kristen has faced a year of stressful, costly and complex medical hurdles.  Although we can't take on the journey for her, we can help relieve some of the financial strain.  Let's show Kristen how loved and supported she really is.

Here's some background: Kristen was born with the most common form of dwarfism, Achondroplasia.  At twelve years old, Kristen underwent a series of surgeries known as  extended limb lengthening at the Paley Insitute in Florida.  This significantly improved her quality of life. 

Kristen and I became good friends when she joined the team at Charleston Power Yoga in Charleston, SC.  My favorite thing about Kristen is how she lovingly challenges all of us to redefine our relationship to the word "disability".   
I think many of us were caught flat-footed when our dear friend, whom I had quickly gone blind to seeing as at all "different" from any of the rest of us,  suddenly had to leave her Charleston home, her friends and her life for Florida to undergo a 9 level spinal fusion due to spinal stenosis.  If she hadn't had the surgery, she would have been permanently paralyzed.  
You don't need to be a doctor to imagine how intensive the recovery and physical therapy is for a surgery of that magnitude. Unfortunately, Kristen's insurance company only allotted 30 physical therapy sessions.  Once these were exhausted, she tried to heal and rehab on her own.  Unfortunately, her right leg was unstable as a result of spinal stenosis and it prevented her from walking unassisted. 
Fast forward to August, 2016.   Another surgery was imminent.  They had to operate on Kristen's right leg. They did 5 osteotomies (breaks) secured with internal hardware to align and stabilize her knee and ankle.  Again...Big surgery=Big healing journey.  Kristen's insurance company, despite repeated appeals, denied rehab entirely. She paid the $200/hour out of pocket as long as she could but was forced to discontinue due to cost.

This bring us to today.  Still unable to return to Charleston for the long-term, our sweet Kristen is moving back and forth between her doctor in Florida and her family home in Mass.  Today, on November 1st, she will undergo a second spinal fusion surgery.  Her lower spine is pulling away from the hardware and causing further compression of her spinal cord, resulting in paralysis of her right foot and severe discomfort. After this surgery, which is hopefully her last, her spine will be fused on 10 levels. 

Through all of this frightening uncertainty, Kristen has continued to shine her light, advocating for her passionate causes, assisting her fellow patients at the Paley Institute and pursuing her writing.  If you know Kristen, you know she isn't one to ever ask for help.  But the reality is that the financial burden of this year-long crisis has become too much to bear.  
As Kristen's friend, all I want is to take on some of the pain, fear and struggle... just to make it a little easier.  Unfortunately I can't do that.  What I can do, and I hope you'll join me, is help ease the financial stress.  I want to help Kristen get back to what she does best... helping other people. I think together we can make a big impact.

Your donations will go to offset Kristen's costs, including:

-Travel
-Lodging
-Surgical bills
-Physical therapy
-MRIs

For more information about Kristen, her work and her jouney, check out her website.  She was also recently featured on Refinery29 because of her amazing Instagram account.... follow it. She is a regular contributer to The Mighty and was recently published in the Huffington Post.