Annie Jo Needs Surgery!

UPDATE - July 19, 2022

Hey friends!

First, AJ and I want to thank you. For your quick and vast support for her vital medical procedure.

In just two days, we were able to exceed our initial goal and relieve some stress from AJ’s plate.

Unfortunately, we are at a place where we need to readjust our goal.

Insurance ultimately denied every appeal AJ made and deemed her situation as “not medically necessary.”

Now her only option is to appeal to the state, which could take more time than AJ has to continue to work and live her life closer to how it was before her injury.

On a positive-sounding note, Annie Jo’s surgery has been rescheduled to this Thursday, July 21st at 9am. But this was only available because she agreed to a “self-pay” option.

Total surgery costs are around $90,000, not including physical therapy and post-care needs, which are not covered by insurance.

AJ will apply for financial assistance through the hospital and re-apply for the Equity Fund next summer when she is permitted to.

But she needs more help.

We have raised our goal to $20,000 to assist with Physical Therapy and towards the initial payment of the surgery.

ANYTHING is helpful. Simply sharing this post one more time is so appreciated.

Once again, thank you for helping us get to where we are! My hope is that we can spread the word and get Annie Jo the support she needs.

All the best

June 14, 2022 - Our friend, colleague, and teacher *Annie Jo Fischer* is getting Cervical Spine Surgery next week, and she needs our help.

 

Three months ago, AJ endured a neck injury while choreographing Rock of Ages for the Paramount Theatre, which resulted in 2 herniated cervical discs impacting her spinal cord. One wrong headwhiphairflip and now she's dealing with massive pain, reduced mobility, and chronic migraines. Worst of all, this injury has left her unable to work, forcing her to live off savings-- unemployment, worker's comp, and equity emergency fund have proved unhelpful.

 

 

If we all know one thing about AJ, it's that she is a dancer. A communicator of movement who so effortlessly accesses full range of her instrument and gifts it to the world. And the thought of her not being able to express herself in the best way she knows how is soul-shattering. 

 

This surgery is vital for her to be able to dance again.

 

I hope that, with our help, Annie Jo can rest and recover to fighting shape without the financial burden she faces. Or at least a smaller financial burden.

 

 

Our goal is $7,250+ which will be used for the following:

 

 

If you'd like to support AJ in other ways, GrubHub/DoorDash/Marianos giftcards would be a fabulous option!

Or connect your support directly to her through Venmo: @Annie-jo-Fischer

 

 

Her surgery will be on Tuesday, June 21st, where she will get artificial replacement of the two discs in her neck. Following the surgery will be 6-8 weeks of recovery and plenty of rest, physical therapy, and Netflix.

 

On behalf of AJ, I know that she would like to thank you for any support - even if it's simply sharing this post. She is a powerfully independent human who is too selfless to ask for help but could really use it right now.

 

All the best to you and yours- thank you.