After months of pain and slowly losing feeling in his right leg, our friend, and colleague, Patrick Burles underwent emergency surgery on his back Feb. 19, 2025, at Foothills Hospital. The surgery was a result of Cauda Equina Syndrome, a very serious issue that occurs when the nerve roots in the lumbar spine are compressed (squeezed), cutting off sensation and movement.

Immediately following the surgery, Patrick was wheelchair bound as he had lost a great deal of feeling in both legs and feet. The doctors told him to prepare for a very different lifestyle as they weren’t sure what mobility was going to look like for his future.

Patrick then spent over six weeks living full-time at St. Michael’s in the post-acute rehabilitation program in Lethbridge relearning how to work muscles he couldn’t feel, pushing his feet and legs to walk again. The effort he put in was nothing short of remarkable considering he was learning to fire up the muscles in his legs and feet that he couldn’t feel. All of this, while healing from his back surgery which was still a source of both regular and nerve pain.

Patrick went from a wheelchair to a walker and is now managing his daily walks with a cane. He returned home on April 11, after more than seven weeks in care away from his wife, Annalea and their two young boys. Without an at home gym and a live-in physiotherapist, we are hoping to gift him something that can keep firing the muscles in his legs and glutes without putting strain on his back.

He’s requested a piece of gym equipment which costs about $1,600. I think we can work together to raise that and maybe even more to help with any other things he may need around his house to support his mobility.