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I'm writing this on behalf of my best friend, and roommate, Allison Wier. Allie, also known as Ashaeda to the online community was cheerful, creative and energetic artist until an accident this past fall. In October, Allie was badly injured in a mishap while moving storage. There was a miscommunication, and a large, metal shelf fell over, hooking them by the neck and dragging them to the ground. Allie, due to having Ehlers danlos syndrome, already had back issues, but has always been very careful to avoid injury. Unfortunately, this injury is causing them a great deal of pain.
After being placed on mandatory hold for 14 hours in the Emergency room while drs debated surgery, it was decided that Allie is too high risk, and they were sent home on round the clock monitoring until they can get specialized surgery to repair thier neck. Several discs have been shattered, and the spinal cord is severely crushed at C5, C6 and C7. Several other discs in the lower back were also herniated, but they can only operate at one place at a time and need to be selective due to the complexity of the injury. They also found several small tumors in the bones and will be doing a two level fusion and disc removal with bone grafts.
While getting imaging for the neck, it was also discovered that they have a birth anomaly in the lower spine and may end up needing a second surgery after the first but we won't know until after the first surgery. Currently surgery is held up due to scheduling issues with the hospital and the need for two high level surgeons to perform the procedure due the high level if risk. This of course has placed Allie in a difficult position and made work nearly impossible for them.
Allie has made artwork and fursuits as a career for the past 10+ years and this injury has placed a severe hamper on thier ability to create, socialize and just leave the house in general. Having been mostly shut inside the past 6 months, life goes on, but the stress and pain has gotten worse rather than better as thier injury slowly breaks down. Imaging has shown it cannot heal without surgical intervention.
I'm hoping to make this go fund me to ease the stress off of Allie who insists on trying to work anyways to fulfill thier current work load despite a debilitating injury, the dwindling state of thier back and me harping on them to rest. They need a roll-in shower, grab bars by thier bed and general support to keep things going while they are layed up. Thier ability to bring in income has also been greatly reduced. As far as we know, the majority of the surgery will be covered by insurance but we would like to make a buffer just in case, and there will be more expenses after (and possibly between) surgery(s). Funds will be used to cover medical needs not covered by insurnace, install needed support equipment around the home, offset bills and any other expenses that arise due to this injury and loss of mobility. It is made further complicated by existing conditions including EDS, POTS, MCAD, Narcolepsy, and neuroendocrine complications.
This injury has unfortunately taken away the ability for Allie to safely walk for the rest of thier life, and without this surgery, this injury will eventually fully paralyze them from the neck down. Allie has historically been an endurance athlete, and a creative individual who volunteered frequently at art and children's events, bringing joy and art to so many others around them. If I could, I would give them back their life of athleticism and physical creativity but that's not possible. I hope this helps to bring back at least a bit of that joy over time.
Please take time to consider sharing, or supporting if you are able. Allie also has an ABLE account with the state of Oregon that you may contribute directly to as well as an Etsy shop if you would like to support thier art work. (Links at bottom)
Thank you for taking the time to read our story. It means a lot.
Link to Etsy : weaselsoneasels.etsy.com
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