See update from April 2018.  Original GoFundMe was started in 2016.

This is me asking for your help and wanting to tell my story...Hello, I am Andrea Selfridge and I live in Oklahoma City. I am a 5th grade teacher in an inner city school and also teach for the BOOST after-school program.   I absolutely love my job and the chance to help a student every day!  I am single and love to be with my friends and family.   Despite that, I also have had some health issues that haven't always made it easy.

I have injured 2 tendons on my foot and had a small hairline fracture in a bone of my foot.  This occured somehow in February of 2015.  I went to the doctor every 3-4 weeks for several months until I was switched to every 6 weeks, had 7 months of physical therapy, wore a walking boot off and on for almost a year, and tried several other means of healing including shots, medications, steroids, and creams.  I have never missed a doctor's appointment and I always make sure I am religious in following my treatment plan with strengthening/stabilizing exercises.

I have also not been able to wear any shoe I wish since March of 2015.  I have had two special inserts made for $300 each and purchased special shoes that I must wear every day.  I am not able to run, jump, or do any type of high impact movements and haven't been able to since last year.   That being said, I am still not completely healed.  One tendon  should not require surgery (for now the doctors have informed me that there is up to 75% chance of no surgery).  However, the other tendon does require surgery to heal properly as it has not responded well enough to the treatments  so far.  The surgery is unfortunately not covered by 50% of insurances and mine is one of them.  It is $3,200 total-hospital, surgery, anesthesiologist, etc.  It is to be paid for completely before I can schedule the surgery.  This is less invasive and will not require any hospital stay, etc.  This procedure is the only FDA approved high-energy shockwave system that provides an alternative to major surgery.   The shockwaves are designed to increase circulation within the tendon and promote healing.  With its high success rate of 85-90%, studies have shown that it can work immediately or may take up to 3 months for healing.  I will be able to return to walking and other low-impact activities the next day.   If this doesn't work, I will have to have a second surgery in 3 months.  It will be an actual surgery where they will go in to repair the tendon.  It will require me to take off work for a week or two, be in a splint/on crutches for 2 weeks, in a walking boot for 1-2 months, and then physical therapy for 6 weeks.  This surgery is covered by insurance and should be around $2,000.   Hopefully, the second surgery is not necessary and the non-invasive one will produce desired results.

For the last several years of my life, I have had some type of health issue or inury to deal with.  Last year, I spent over $5,000 on medical bills while being single  and living on an Oklahoma teacher's salary.   In the last two weeks alone, I have spent $500.00 alone on medical expenses for another issue with a possible tumor in my bladder.  This past school year I have worked extra hard.  I have my normal teaching job and also signed up to teach after hours.  Typically, I would get up at 5:45 in the morning, go to phyical therapy 3 times a week at 6:45, go teach my class until 3:20, then attend BOOST after-school program until after 6:30 most nights.  Some of you may not know but I did this to keep up with the constant flow of dreaded medical bills.  

I have always been able to make payment arrangements and work to get them paid off.  I still have payments every month that I will need to make for the next 2 years to have them completely paid off.  I have budgeted out my expenses, and while I lead a fun life...I have had generous friends to help me along the way so I may do some things at little or no cost to me.  


I am very blessed to have my life with my family and friends and am thankful for the opportunites I have been given.  But I also struggle to keep a float of payments due to my salary and percentage of medical bills coming in.   I try to pick up extra housesitting jobs or sell unwanted things to help with my expenses as well.  I am proud that I am typically able to work hard and do it myself without always doing the more fun things I could be doing.  I try not to get down on this and thankful I have great doctors that are caring for me.  I still stay positive and pray God will always find a way.  But with everything that is piling up, it is hard to stay in pain every day and not be able to come up with the  $ 3, 200 up front.  They do not allow payment plans to be made on this type of service.   The doctor's have offered the non-invasive surgery since February.  I haven't been able to have it so far due to lack of funds.  Every time I have tried to save  money for it, something else comes up and I am forced to deal with that medical issue first (sickness, bladder, etc).  They are basically at a stand-still with treatments until I am able to cover it.  I have continued to go to appointments in the meantime.  

So I would be forever grateful if you would consider donating any amount-big or small so that I may finally finish this obstacle in my life.   I was recently told that I should try a gofundme account to see if I could get any help.  While I hesitated at first, I tried not to think about the fact that I felt silly doing it.  Instead, I thought I would like to put this behind me  and have healthy feet again.  I pray every night that God will find a way and that I can get the help I need.  I also want to continue my journey of becoming a healthier woman and am almost to my goal of losing 100 pounds.   I have been proud of how far I have come without being able to do a single high-impact exercise.   I want to thank for your consideration and thoughtfullness.  Finally, I want to thank you for all your get well soon wishes and for always checking up on my progress.    Love, Andrea