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Christie's Spine Surgery Fund

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Born at 22 weeks weighting in at 1 pound, loosing a sister, overcoming a very toxic parents divorce,  going to 4 different high schools, getting sexually asulted, over coming high school bullying, moving 60+ times in a 6 year span, cant even count how many times i’ve moved in 10 year span,  put myself through college,  been homeless, lived out my car, living in motels & hotels, couch hoping ( those friends that helped me -- thank you) being kicked out of every single family members home -- for simply the reason of loving the other family member  or just “ not being the right time for them, for me to be in their life” moving across country to be abused by a family member -- to returning back home with .17 cents in my bank account, to starting all over again -- ALL these things I have over come -- I have survived. I have remain RESILIENT.  I have held my head up, I have fought back many tears and moved forward. I have shown myself and others what strength is-- some peers telling me, i’m the strongest person they know.


I have been in pain for the past two years-- with visits to doctors and ER’s. to being told. “ i’m young and healthy” or to try yoga and my pain will go away. Honestly, I thought it was just my hip issue and have been struggling with the pain and discomfort for the past two years. when the pain of my hip area wasn’t that bad-- and I was able to push through the pain -- and thought HEY!!! i’m going to start working out -- strengthen up some muscles & see if that would help me-- however, some of you may have noticed I stopped my wonderful Peloton workouts back in August--  due to back pain -- which oddly was getting worse & worse. laying down would often help ease the pain--fast forward to September to literally  every movement I made was becoming extremely  painful. now sitting, reaching, standing, walking, twisting, bending. you name it HURTS! I begged for my doctor to do an MRI-- which then just resulted in my getting prescribed more medications “ this will ease the pain” -- until the medications eventually stopped working-- so frustrating. I was hooking up to a TENS machine twice a day, getting weekly medical massages-- until the massage therapist said to me “ something is going on, your entire left side of your body & lower back is rock hard even after 3 weeks of massages. She referred me to go see a chiropractor at her work. 

FINALLY I found people who were wanting to listen to me!-- the dude didn’t even want touch me until he saw the results of the MRI --( umm can you say best chiropractor ever!!) I got two MRI’S 1. hip & 2. lumbar spine. ( ps they are freaking odd machines and I don't recommend selecting classical music to listen to-- I thought it would be calming and ease my anxiety.. NOPE!  basically makes you feel like you’re getting murdered in a horror film * enter reee reee sound effects*  Thank god for deep belly breathing during that session ( I learned that from yoga!) -- I felt such accomplishment surviving both  MRI experiences-- left the image center being told " your results will be in Monday, its probably just sciatica "
I ended up getting a call last Monday from the Chiro with answers-- yay! right? well not exactly -- I just got semi answers and news I didn’t really want to hear. 

 “ Christie, your results are so severe I want to be honest with you, and I don't think chiropractor care is going to help you, I don't want you to waste your money and you need to see a spine orthopedic surgeon” ( mind you  i’ve already spent $1600 with MRI and doctor visits alone- gotta love America’ s  healthcare system) 

WHAM! I got hit with the emotions of ANXIETY & DEPRESSION  

spine and surgeon-- in the same sentence is absolutely terrifying!!! I was sent over my report and researched every term, body part, bone ,and medical term that was in every sentence--- like a mad woman. for days dwelling over the report trying to find answers of what is wrong with me???  I called insurance advisors to see if I can get better insurance ( that was a whirlwind in its self -- insurance is so expensive and was dead end after dead end)

Anthony being the best man/partner/supporter, most calm, genuine human being on this planet  ( I LOVE YOU !!!) calmly walked me off the edge of my research madness -- where I was feeling like MY LIFE-- YET AGAIN!! was being jolted from me. every thought was racing through my head-- Can Anthony & I not have children now?  how am I going to afford everything ?  how the do I just pick a spine surgeon? what are the risks? am I going to be able to walk again?  really?  another crazy life transition the universe is wanting to  just throw at me.. how much more can I take?  --trust me I was in a very deep sate of sadness ( it still hits me time to time )  Anthony came in the room and laid with me-- we cried together and he told me-- “lets wait, lets wait to see what the spine specialist has to say.-- BREATHE!!!” 

well guys-- I saw the orthopedic  spine surgeon this week & it looks as though I will have to get spine surgery. SPINE SURGERY-- yep you read that correctly. it is absolutely terrifying to hear. especially, when I can’t get a specific answer as to why, how, or what caused my back to be in this state?  -- that this was just my body... being my body.

no crazy car accident or crazy life event  happened to cause me to have to get this terrifying, intense procedure... I asked if it was due to me being born extremely premature-- the answer “ not sure”  so here I am.. 33 years old with a very very unhealthy spine and here WE all are-- all trying to survive 2020. i’m sure we all feel as if we  have been living in a twilight zone like of a  year and my life has shown up with another PLOT TWIST . I have been diagnosed with two spine diseases, a spine disorder, & a bulging disc -- some of these conditions are worse than others & if the SEVERE ones go untreated I can run into NERVE DAMAGE  & PARALYSIS. 

As some of you already know, I have been trying to remain strong and keep my fighter/ warrior theme going for this crazy life of mine as DEFEATING & DEVASTATING this feels I will continue to fight. **enter Rocky training montage music here**


i’m not someone that wants to ask for money, especially with the year we are all trying to navigate- many jobless, lost loved ones, searching for their next meal--  just trying to stay afloat-- all of us have our own life struggles & honestly I have debated posting this-- as I feel like my life story isn’t as bad as those in other countries or some of us in our country -- in its current state-- i’m not that special- right?  BUT with push from my best friends-- telling me this is a big deal!!!! to stop down playing this-I decided to post --

right now-- I'm going to be put the light hearted, trying to be funny, bubbly christie part of this post aside and reveal the reality of it all and that is ...
( SOBBING) 

These diagnosis’s have been catastrophic for me to have render-- physically, emotionally and mentally - a lot of stress and finical burden for BOTH  Anthony & I -- we are asking for help. any type of donation to help us in this hard time & the VERY LONG road of physical therapy, medication, hospital stays, medical bills, surgery and recovery ahead.  ANY donation is extremely appreciative. I thank you also for taking your time in reading this and or sharing. 

Love, Christie Topjian
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Donations 

  • Kayvon Rucci
    • $50
    • 4 yrs
  • Taylor Stone
    • $20
    • 4 yrs
  • Olivia Fiorelli
    • $20
    • 4 yrs
  • Anonymous
    • $20
    • 4 yrs
  • Abby & Brandon Quick
    • $100
    • 4 yrs
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Organizer

Christie Topjian
Organizer
Frisco, TX

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