Butch Godwin

In April of 2018 Butch injured his neck. Butch first thought he just pulled a muscle but a month later he and Amanda found out he somehow ruptured the C5,6 and 7 vertebrae in his neck. In an xray, the doctors also noticed a very serious condition in the area of the ruptured disks called an Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM), which required immediate surgery to repair and to also remove the ruptured vertebrate. Six weeks after surgery on July 3, 2018, during a “routine” angiogram Butch began to feel intense pain at which time the procedure was stopped. Butch was sent home that night and had a mild spinal stroke. The next morning Butch’s hands and feet were not acting right so he went back to the ER immediately. Although Butch recovered that night with no symptoms, a repeat angiogram was done three days later under sedation where Butch clinically “died” on the table and had to be brought back to life. When Butch woke up, he soon realized that he was completely paralyzed from the neck down with no feeling. According to the doctors, Lidocaine leaked into his spinal fluid during that “routine” angiogram to scope out the AVM so it could be repaired. Butch was under the impression that eventually the lidocaine would filter out of the spinal fluid and he would regain use of his arms and legs and the hospital continued telling Butch that he would recover. In the meantime, Butch began in home Physical and Occupational Therapy for a month until he met with a local doctor who informed him and Amanda that explained that his medical records showed the lidocaine leak caused a massive spinal stroke by blowing out the AVM and stopping the blood flow down his spine causing permanent paralysis. Butch is slowly gaining some feeling/movements his arms and hands but he has very little control. He still has no feeling from his collar bone all the way down to the bottom of his feet. Butch and Amanda have tried everything to get government assistance or help from the doctors in Dallas at UT South West and no one will help them. Amanda is the only one able to work right now and she is also Butch’s full-time caregiver. They are completely broke and in debt with little hope of recovering financially from this horrible situation they find themselves in. In addition, Butch and Amanda are desperate to raise funds so that Butch can receive specialized therapy at Tirr Spinal Memorial Hermann Rehabilitation Hospital in Houston. If they can raise the money, Butch and Amanda could be in Houston for a month or longer and will need to be able to pay for food, lodging and some of Butch’s out of pocket medical expenses and medications. Tirr Hospital is considered the best in all of Texas and #3 in the US and Butch’s hope of walking again depends on receiving the intensive therapy at Tirr Hospital. Lets all get together and show our support for Butch and Amanda by donating. Any amount will help!