Donate to help support Rich after major neck surgery.

My name Is Rich Wiatrowski. I'm a family man with 3 adult kids and a beautiful wife, a volunteer educator (Docent) for the Louisville Zoo, and an active volunteer for my community. I need help.

On Wednesday, August 13, 2025, I will undergo major spinal surgery — an anterior cervical decompression and fusion from C4 to C7, including a C6 corpectamy. In plain terms, my spinal cord is being dangerously compressed in multiple places due to severe narrowing and bone growths from my vertebrae. The doctor will completely remove my C6 vertebrae from my body and put a titanium cage around the gap left from the removal. There is also a possibility the bone spurs from my vertebrae may have punctured my spinal cord which would cause me to stay in the hospital potentially up to two weeks or more. Eventually, my bone will grow into the void but it will take some time.

Here is an example of the corpectamy procedure:

https://youtu.be/YUgxsDQdR14?si=GSsvPx19XSLciXF6

My doctors have warned me that without this surgery, something like a car accident or even a bad fall could leave me permanently paralyzed. It was made very clear that I need to get this done. After much prayer, I am moving forward with it. 

While the decision to have surgery was difficult, the financial situation makes it even harder. I work under a government contract, and as of July 1, 2025, my position transferred to a new contracting company. This change left me ineligible for short-term disability or any other income replacement benefits.

That means while I’m recovering — for potentially about three months — I will have no income at all.

Regretfully, I haven't done a good job creating an emergency fund for us so I don’t have any savings to fall back on. Without help, I will fall behind on my bills and may even lose my home.

My goal is $10,000, which will cover about three months of my income while I recover. I will forward any portion of the money received to another charity if I do manage to return to work before the full 3 months which I certainly hope to do.

Any amount, big or small, will make a huge difference in helping me heal without the stress of facing financial ruin. Your generosity will not only help me recover physically but also keep my wife and I from having to face the fear of a financial catastrophe.

Thank you for reading, for sharing, and for caring.