Floating Kidney surgery- Nephroptosis
Donation protected
Just one year ago in january 2018 the drs were removing 1/3 of my colon that was adhered to my abdominal wall , it was making me toxic so removing it was the only way to save my life . At the time the mass under my ribcage was assumed to be inflammation in my intestines so i was asked by my surgeon to be patient through the healing process and see if the mass disappeared . It did not .
For three years now i prayed for someone to tell me what this painful mass was under my right ribcage. 11 tests and 8 drs later i now know , and the procedure to fix my nephroptosis (floating kidney) is set for January 7th 2019 at Cleveland Clinic
Imaging tests taken of me standing instead of lying down finally show that not only is my kidney floating forward and is not attached to the back of my abdominal wall as it should be but it also showed that when it floats forward it turns sideways making the ureter twist which makes it extremely painful and hard for the kidney to empty . The kidney sits sideways in front and is being crushed between my liver , ribcage and intestines below it . So now i know why it hurts so bad !
Because the condition is quite rare the need for a urologist / transplant surgeon specialist to put it back in place raises the costs from just general surgery fees as you can imagine , leaving my family with quite a hefty bill even after what insurance will cover since its in January of the new year no deductibles will have been met yet . Surgery and hospital stays add up quickly . Then there is the after math of surgery . The healing process , aftercare and my husband being off work to be by my side while im in the hospital and taking care of me . Child care for our 5 yr old while i heal at home as i am his primary caretaker during the week but wont be able to during the 4-6 wk healing process as his kindergarten is just two days a week .
Physically , mentally , spiritually and emotionally its been such a rough journey dealing with unbearable pain this long and those of you who know me know that not being able to work on my shows has been one of the hardest things for me to deal with as creating entertainment brings me so much joy . i look forward to being able to sit up and stand again without being so uncomfortable . To be able to play with our son on the floor again and do activitys together as a family without having to lay down with my heating pad to ease my discomfort. I look forward to being in a better mood as well . Chronic pain really puts you in a bad , mad or sad
Some of you may wonder how my kidney began to detach and float . Its my understanding as my drs explained it to me most likely between toxic black mold exposure a few years ago and my colon was poisoning me because of its inability to function properly while i was detoxing mold i was just recycling everything back into my body that my body was trying to detox . I began to lose a dramatic amount of weight rapidly . I weighed 125 lbs when i got sick and in a matter of just 6-8 weeks i lost a total of 32 lbs . My friends jokingly named me skeletor and the crypt keeper (lol) some didnt recognize me since my already small frame had dissappeared to skin and bones , ribcage protruding , hipbones , and cheekbones sticking out . I was constantly nauseated and dizzy could only keep down small meal replacement shakes .
My condition is more common in women and more common in the right kidney than the left . Dr also said dramatic weight loss is the most common reason it happens .
I have so much hope for the future and getting back to work with my creative family in LA making quality live entertainment . Its my hearts desire to create with other artists . I love it with all of my being . Being a producer and director is my calling and my passion . It feeds my soul .
I have not been able to work or produce any shows with any profits for quite some time as i live in chronic daily pain . We moved across the country to OH to get the medical care i needed that i wasnt getting in CA. I rely solely on my husband to keep the three of us afloat.
I have always been self sufficient and hard working since i was 14 years old . Always having a job or sometimes multiple jobs in my 20’s and 30’s until i got sick almost 4 years ago . I built my show Devils Playground Burlesque from the ground up . Blood sweat tears and everything i had went into making that show a success . Its not easy for me to ask for help but i need it right now . We all need help sometimes .
Please help if you can . It would mean the world to me.
With love and Much Gratitude
Courtney
For three years now i prayed for someone to tell me what this painful mass was under my right ribcage. 11 tests and 8 drs later i now know , and the procedure to fix my nephroptosis (floating kidney) is set for January 7th 2019 at Cleveland Clinic
Imaging tests taken of me standing instead of lying down finally show that not only is my kidney floating forward and is not attached to the back of my abdominal wall as it should be but it also showed that when it floats forward it turns sideways making the ureter twist which makes it extremely painful and hard for the kidney to empty . The kidney sits sideways in front and is being crushed between my liver , ribcage and intestines below it . So now i know why it hurts so bad !
Because the condition is quite rare the need for a urologist / transplant surgeon specialist to put it back in place raises the costs from just general surgery fees as you can imagine , leaving my family with quite a hefty bill even after what insurance will cover since its in January of the new year no deductibles will have been met yet . Surgery and hospital stays add up quickly . Then there is the after math of surgery . The healing process , aftercare and my husband being off work to be by my side while im in the hospital and taking care of me . Child care for our 5 yr old while i heal at home as i am his primary caretaker during the week but wont be able to during the 4-6 wk healing process as his kindergarten is just two days a week .
Physically , mentally , spiritually and emotionally its been such a rough journey dealing with unbearable pain this long and those of you who know me know that not being able to work on my shows has been one of the hardest things for me to deal with as creating entertainment brings me so much joy . i look forward to being able to sit up and stand again without being so uncomfortable . To be able to play with our son on the floor again and do activitys together as a family without having to lay down with my heating pad to ease my discomfort. I look forward to being in a better mood as well . Chronic pain really puts you in a bad , mad or sad
Some of you may wonder how my kidney began to detach and float . Its my understanding as my drs explained it to me most likely between toxic black mold exposure a few years ago and my colon was poisoning me because of its inability to function properly while i was detoxing mold i was just recycling everything back into my body that my body was trying to detox . I began to lose a dramatic amount of weight rapidly . I weighed 125 lbs when i got sick and in a matter of just 6-8 weeks i lost a total of 32 lbs . My friends jokingly named me skeletor and the crypt keeper (lol) some didnt recognize me since my already small frame had dissappeared to skin and bones , ribcage protruding , hipbones , and cheekbones sticking out . I was constantly nauseated and dizzy could only keep down small meal replacement shakes .
My condition is more common in women and more common in the right kidney than the left . Dr also said dramatic weight loss is the most common reason it happens .
I have so much hope for the future and getting back to work with my creative family in LA making quality live entertainment . Its my hearts desire to create with other artists . I love it with all of my being . Being a producer and director is my calling and my passion . It feeds my soul .
I have not been able to work or produce any shows with any profits for quite some time as i live in chronic daily pain . We moved across the country to OH to get the medical care i needed that i wasnt getting in CA. I rely solely on my husband to keep the three of us afloat.
I have always been self sufficient and hard working since i was 14 years old . Always having a job or sometimes multiple jobs in my 20’s and 30’s until i got sick almost 4 years ago . I built my show Devils Playground Burlesque from the ground up . Blood sweat tears and everything i had went into making that show a success . Its not easy for me to ask for help but i need it right now . We all need help sometimes .
Please help if you can . It would mean the world to me.
With love and Much Gratitude
Courtney
Organizer
Courtney Cruz
Organizer
Jamestown, OH