Andy Annunziata

Well my friends, my journey continues.  In 3 weeks from today, I will be heading back to Germany for another spine surgery.  This time it will be in my Cervical spine (neck).  Yet again I will be having a multilevel disc replacement surgery similar to my lumbar spine in Sept of 2015.  For those who know me and have followed my story for the past 3 years I have been blessed to have lived virtually pain free in and back to being me and active enjoying my passion for Triathlons, able to work and perform my work obligations and  most importantly being the best dad I can be!  I have shared my medical history and in past posts on my story regarding the car accidents that my ex-wife and I were in and the trauma we faced years ago.  Well my spine has certainly taken its toll from these horrific accidents.  5 years ago prior to my back surgery I had several bulging / herniated discs in my neck, but I was fortunate that I was asymptomatic for years.   Then in 2014  was when my back seemed to go south rapidly and thats when it priority before my neck and thats why I had my back surgery.  

Well it was a quick but painful incident that happened only 2 months ago while (unfortunately but true) playing with my 2 girls in a pool.   In short I basically "woke up the sleeping painful discs" in my neck and as I result have been struggling daily with severe pain in my neck, arms and shoulders as result of the nerve damage and muscle weakness. I average about 2-4 hours a sleep every night as I can't rest my head comfortably, and I wake up constantly with numb fingers.  I have been "managing the pain" for weeks but I refuse to believe this is they way I am going to live for the next months and years ahead.   

I suppose this is  very familiar path for me and it has virtually once again rocked my world.  Those who know my personal life , know 2018 has been a new venture to say the least as I have been adopting to single fatherhood and now this condition of mine has been yet another major setback.  I am basically back to sedentary, and I want my life back!   I have been so fortunate to have gained back the life I had since my back surgery in 2015.  As I went to Germany and had the worlds best spine surgeon provide something for me that NO Dr here in the states could do or would be able to do.   So for me, I don't see any other option of having any other Dr operate on my spine again.  

Friends who know me really well would say I am a fairly humble guy, and I don't know how to ask other people for money and typically don't like to ask others for help.  

But, I am kinda in a bind financially and if anyone is kind enough to take a second to help me out in anyway, I would be forever so grateful for anything you feel you can or would be able to do.  The surgical costs will be upwards of $40,000.00 and then of course travel and expenses.  

Thank you all for reading my post, god bless!