Broken back from car accident, car totaled, support healing.

Update: The Kyphoplasty surgery for my L1 vertebrae compression fracture has been scheduled for May 6th in Philadelphia. I have a friend flying in to take me to surgery and pick me up.  We have to stay in a hotel by the hospital the night before and day of surgery after they release me.  She will then be taking me to rest, recuperate and take care of me at my cabin in upstate NY for the next 7 days.

Update: I had my surgery consult on 3/10. They’re scheduling the Kyphoplasty procedure for my back in the next couple of weeks. I have to wait to hear from the surgeon’s asst. The injury has gotten worse since the accident on 3/10 MRI and the X-ray on 3/25.  My L1 vertebrae is more compressed.

Update: I have my surgery consult this Thursday 3/10 @ 3pm. I have to have the consult to be approved for the surgery. Hopefully I leave there with a surgery date for sometime in the next 2 weeks. I hope they can fix me up and make me like new again. I wear a back brace all the time except when I am sleeping. I have a limited amount of time I can be up doing things for myself which is around 5 hours total per day. The rest of my day is spent in bed. I take pain meds every day and wear lidocaine patches besides the back brace.

Update: I had my first follow up today 3/25 with the orthopedic Dr. They did more X-rays and unfortunately I have to have surgery on my back or I will never walk upright again and I will always be in pain he says. They are calling me later this week to schedule for next week. The surgery I am having is called: Kyphoplasty. They will be inserting two rods along with a balloon into both sides of my L1 vertebrae, blowing it up to create the space that was there prior to compression fracture of my L1 vertebrae from the accident. They will then remove the balloon and fill the space with bone cement. I am terrified and I am in horrific pain right now. 

Help for Lauren: Broken Back from car accident, car totaled and support while healing.

I experienced a tragedy at 7:30am on March 10th.

While I was driving, someone who was driving recklessly, speeding well beyond the speed limit hit me and totaled my car. I have sustained serious injuries, the most critical being a broken back.

The L1 vertebrae or 1st Lumbar in my spine is fractured. I was in the hospital for the last 2 days in Philadelphia and am now in NYC at my best friend’s apartment where she can take care of me. I have to lie still immobilized for 2 weeks other than getting up to go to the restroom. I am on pain medication every 4hrs along with NSAIDS however it isn’t helping the pain much at all. Right now the Dr’s feel that my spinal cord is intact and that I won’t have to have surgery after doing CT scans, an MRI and X-rays. I have a follow up appointment in 2 weeks with a neuro orthopedic spinal specialist for more X-rays.

If you know me, you know that I endure things like this largely on my own. Being immobilized for at least two weeks or longer will be a hardship on me as well as no longer having a car for the time being. Not that I can drive anyway. I can barely walk and cannot sit up. This means no work, no income, and the inability to take care of my other business.

I will need money for the basics like food, medicine and bills. Anything helps.

I have hired a lawyer who is working on my case to fight it out with the insurance companies.

Please find it in your heart to donate what you can. I know some of you have been touched by my generosity in the past as I have helped when I could. I really need your financial support and emotional encouragement right now.

Thank you all so much for your help!

Sincerely

Lauren