In 1972, at the young age of 17, I suffered an accident that would change my life forever. I was stacking bales of hay on a stack mover that day. Now if you aren't a farm kid like me, a stack mover has 12 beams, 12" apart, with blunt teeth that rotate around the beams. They are engaged by a power take off that help to load and unload a stack of hay. I was standing on these beams when I lost my footing, fell backwards along with 6 bales of hay that landed on me from a front end loader. I was incredibly lucky, with no broken bones in sight, however I had many contusions and bruises on my back, legs, and neck. Though I was dedicated to my work on the farm, this injury would haunt me with periodic sharp pains coupled with constant dull pain on a daily basis that continues to this day.

Despite my back issues I choose a career of nursing, specifically a Licensed Practical Nurse. I always knew I wanted to be in this profession. I have a passion for helping people and I wasn't going to let my weakened back stop me from doing that. This career would tax my body but was incredible for my spirit. After I retired from my career I carried on with my love of being a seamstress. Even though sitting at a sewing machine is extremely difficult on my back, resulting in hours of rest after long sessions, I love to create pieces like medical gowns and masks for individuals as well as local hospitals.

Through the years I experienced multiple other incidents that compounded the original injury I received while working on the farm both in and out of my career. In 2001 I would be a part of a multi vehicle accident that would send me in to multiple sessions of physio and massage therapy. And as I got older, I also developed osteo arthritis in my spine. All of these things would elevate the pain I experienced every day. It has drastically affect my quality of life. So much so that I wonder each each day how I will get out of bed and continue with the pain.

In the last 10 years, as the disability of the back pain increased, I have started the search in to any and all possible options for alleviating my pain and getting back some semblance of my previous quality of life. I have gone to the Health Sciences Pain Clinic and the Pan Am Pain Clinic in the local search for these options. We did many assessments, deep needling therapy, Rhizotomies (burning of nerves), massage therapy, practiced relaxation techniques and deep breathing exercises.

This year our search has lead us to the ONZ Spine Clinic in Germany. This is the only location in the world that can perform the type of surgery I require for my back. I am so thankful for my wonderful spouse who has given me all the love, guidance, and support, that I need for this next chapter of this journey. This journey that will require a lot of faith for us to go through. I pray each day for God to make me healthy again and to guide my husband and I to make the best decisions for my health. We are so very blessed to have our family and friends by our sides and I look forward to the day that I can play with my grandchildren pain free.

Thank you for reading my story.