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In September of 2017, Adria Ellerbrock was in a fantastic spot in her life. Her business was thriving, life with friends and family was amazing, and her love for health and fitness reached an all time high with her newfound affection for CrossFit.
A month later though, things took a turn for the worse. She started having seizures and indescribable head pressure. After many tests, including a head and neck MRI, and a 30-day heart monitor, she was mistreated with many strong medications. Unfortunately, she doesn’t respond to medications like most people. She obtains zero of the benefits but receives all the side effects.
As time went on, she found zero relief but an enormous amount of pain. The following April, her neurologist instructed her to take an immediate trip to the ER for a spinal tap. Although she received numerous shots in her neck, face, and skull for the pain, the spinal tap was done without any sedation and was extremely painful. The spinal tap was all for naught, as she found herself back in the ER less than 24 hours later due to a Cerebral Spinal Fluid Leak.
Between the numerous visits to the ER, she still suffered immensely and found she was unable to function with simple daily tasks. As a result, her sister Andrea and her parents moved in to help her.
Seeking help from Mayo Clinic, the Ellerbrocks were turned away because they did not accept their insurance. Other specialty hospitals were sought after, but there was always a roadblock: A long wait, no doctors available, not accepting the insurance they had. Obstacles were endless and slowly Adria began to lose hope.
In June of 2018, a Spinal Neurosurgeon saw her neck MRI and requested immediate surgery. She underwent Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) surgery to remove a herniated/degenerative disc in the neck. After three plates and eight screws were placed in her neck, she was finally able to leave the hospital after five days. The surgery resulted in less head pressure, but the plate was placed incorrectly, and Adria constantly felt it in her throat. She described it as “being strangled 24/7.” Due to this fact, she ate practically nothing for the next six weeks.
Typically, a neck doesn’t fuse for a year, but with the enormous amount of pain and discomfort Adria was experiencing, the surgeon operated on her only four months later. The plate was taken out, but major neurological issues arose. She was unable to complete a sentence, walk without assistance, and had terrible vision issues. Adria endured two months of unbearable pain before a doctor diagnosed her with another Cerebral Spinal Fluid Leak.
Through all the excruciating pain, trauma, and loss, Adria was diagnosed with PTSD. She had lost her independence, her passions, and due to the fact she had to close down her business of 20 years, she also lost her income. In the last 20 months, she’s had a dozen spinal taps, two neck surgeries, multiple visits to the ER, over 20 MRIs/CTs, a handful of incept doctors, and over $850,000 in medical procedures.
The thing she hasn’t lost is the will to live. Love and support from friends and family keeps her going and helps her remember the beauty in life. All funds raised with help with the mountain of medical bills she still has. Any amount at all will help benefit an individual who’s suffered more than anyone should in one lifetime. Adria and her entire family appreciate any and all support!
A month later though, things took a turn for the worse. She started having seizures and indescribable head pressure. After many tests, including a head and neck MRI, and a 30-day heart monitor, she was mistreated with many strong medications. Unfortunately, she doesn’t respond to medications like most people. She obtains zero of the benefits but receives all the side effects.
As time went on, she found zero relief but an enormous amount of pain. The following April, her neurologist instructed her to take an immediate trip to the ER for a spinal tap. Although she received numerous shots in her neck, face, and skull for the pain, the spinal tap was done without any sedation and was extremely painful. The spinal tap was all for naught, as she found herself back in the ER less than 24 hours later due to a Cerebral Spinal Fluid Leak.
Between the numerous visits to the ER, she still suffered immensely and found she was unable to function with simple daily tasks. As a result, her sister Andrea and her parents moved in to help her.
Seeking help from Mayo Clinic, the Ellerbrocks were turned away because they did not accept their insurance. Other specialty hospitals were sought after, but there was always a roadblock: A long wait, no doctors available, not accepting the insurance they had. Obstacles were endless and slowly Adria began to lose hope.
In June of 2018, a Spinal Neurosurgeon saw her neck MRI and requested immediate surgery. She underwent Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) surgery to remove a herniated/degenerative disc in the neck. After three plates and eight screws were placed in her neck, she was finally able to leave the hospital after five days. The surgery resulted in less head pressure, but the plate was placed incorrectly, and Adria constantly felt it in her throat. She described it as “being strangled 24/7.” Due to this fact, she ate practically nothing for the next six weeks.
Typically, a neck doesn’t fuse for a year, but with the enormous amount of pain and discomfort Adria was experiencing, the surgeon operated on her only four months later. The plate was taken out, but major neurological issues arose. She was unable to complete a sentence, walk without assistance, and had terrible vision issues. Adria endured two months of unbearable pain before a doctor diagnosed her with another Cerebral Spinal Fluid Leak.
Through all the excruciating pain, trauma, and loss, Adria was diagnosed with PTSD. She had lost her independence, her passions, and due to the fact she had to close down her business of 20 years, she also lost her income. In the last 20 months, she’s had a dozen spinal taps, two neck surgeries, multiple visits to the ER, over 20 MRIs/CTs, a handful of incept doctors, and over $850,000 in medical procedures.
The thing she hasn’t lost is the will to live. Love and support from friends and family keeps her going and helps her remember the beauty in life. All funds raised with help with the mountain of medical bills she still has. Any amount at all will help benefit an individual who’s suffered more than anyone should in one lifetime. Adria and her entire family appreciate any and all support!
