Help Jeff get his life back!

Hi! For those who don’t know me, I'm Jeff. I love to lead exercise classes, swing dance with my wife, Jennifer, and hike and ski in the beautiful Rocky Mountains.

Until recently, I also led middle and high school classes in games, dances, and hikes as a PE teacher and Waldorf class teacher.

I often helped friends move their households as the designated “heavy lifter.” I even danced in community theater shows! Then came that moment, about two years ago, when I was loading up the truck with our own household for a cross-country move, and my left leg suddenly tightened up and I started limping and could barely drive to our new house with the help of frequent stretch stops. I couldn't even help unload our own moving truck! Chiropractic work, assisted stretching, massage, and acupuncture followed, and finally, just as the limp was gone - I slipped on the ice, got a bone bruise on the same leg, and was hobbling again.

I was crushed! I went back at it, and eventually fixed it again.

(Spoiler alert - it wasn’t fixed)

Ominous creaking and grinding sensations in my left hip appeared, along with new aches. The X-rays confirmed it - no cartilage left in the hip joint. Two years of limping had used it all up. I can't hike anymore, can barely climb stairs or walk more than a few blocks, can barely hobble through my beloved Bodypump classes (no lunges at all on one side), can’t haul stuff, and can only dance for short periods, stiffly, with a lot of ibuprofin. I have tried cortisone, medications, etc . . . but nothing has worked.

So, at age 54 and otherwise very healthy and longing to be active again, I decided to get hip replacement surgery.

The good news – health insurance will cover the majority of the cost, which will get me a new lease on life!

The bad news - the remainder of deductibles, copays, etc . . . the surgeon, the orthopedic center, anesthesiologist, Xrays and MRIs, the pharmacy, medical supply company (gotta have high tech compression socks!) is still a lot. As a former Waldorf and charter school teacher and current driving instructor, and spouse of a full time grad student, I can't afford it.

I’ve spent my life in service related occupations helping others, and though they didn’t pay a lot, I’ve never regretted it. Nine years active duty as a Naval Officer (and fourteen in the reserves (don’t get that great Navy retirement though.) Twenty-one years as a middle and high school teacher, giving my all at modest-paying private and Waldorf schools because of the greater opportunities to make a difference. Several years substitute teaching. History and P.E. and band, led hikes and dances and marching bands, coached sports. Much of that as a Waldorf class teacher at a wonderful little school in Placerville, CA, doing things like letting 3rd graders chase me all over the meadow, playing at recess with the kids, and teaching my 8th graders Mayfaire and line and swing dances (along with academic subjects). And leading plenty of hikes!

Then, a few years ago, the world shut down. We moved to beautiful Boulder, CO for a new school. Plans changed again, and I found myself teaching people (not just teens!) how to drive cars at a private company. I loved it! My educational and coaching background, rapport with teenagers and physical confidence all help me be a really good instructor (according to our customer surveys, not just my own completely unbiased opinion.) Unfortunately, it doesn’t pay a whole lot.

Jennifer introduced me to my main addiction hobby, Les Mills Bodypump, which is a strength-training group exercise that I immediately fell in love with (I call it weight lifting for musicians and dancers) and eventually became an instructor. I’m so grateful to everyone who’s come to my classes over the years, especially the ones who said their lives have changed because of them! Of course, doing Bodypump with an injury is probably what used up the majority of the cartilage in my hip . . .

I don’t normally like to ask for help (is it a guy thing? Or maybe it’s just me) but I could use some assistance in paying the considerable medical bills coming due. If you’ve read this far, then you’ve got an idea of what I plan to do with my new hip - resume swing dancing with my wonderful wife, hiking in the gorgeous Colorado Rocky Mountains, helping people stay healthy and active by leading Bodypump classes, helping friends move, and keeping the roads safer by training our new drivers! If you would like to help with that, I would be SO incredibly appreciative. Any amount is helpful, and all donations will be used for medical expenses (those still coming as well as the ones already on the credit card.) Thank you so much for considering helping, anything makes a difference!

Blessings and love and light to all,

Jeff