Hi friends. Prepare yourself for a semi long winded post. It hurts my heart to ask. Actually, it's killing me. I've always been one to try to get things on my own. And with the sudden time constraints, I have little else to do but reach out to you. My friends. I kept hoping that by some miracle it would have all worked out and I wouldn't have to do this.....

I'm willing to bet that most of you are aware that I started a long battle with my physical health back in 2022 with an upper spinal fusion and a minimum 2-year recovery. 6 months later I had a lower laminectomy with a 4–6-week recovery. In the spring of 23 I tore my rotator cuff while at work and Workman's comp. delayed and prolonged the procedure and healing time. My shoulder is still jacked up, and I have resigned myself to live with a bum shoulder. Last March I was scheduled for my last lower lumbar spinal fusion, when, all of a sudden, I became very ill (double pneumonia and kidney failure with sepsis.) I ended up in a medically induced coma for 11 days. I woke up paralyzed and started the long road to recovery from that. I no longer need a wheelchair 100% of the time. I need it for about 25% of the time. I've had issues with my heart. My Cardiologist has cleared me. I've had issues with my lungs, and since I quit smoking last September, I haven't needed oxygen for over two months. My pulmonologist has cleared me. My gastroenterologist has cleared my liver functions. And lastly my urologist has cleared my kidneys. I'm not one to back down from a good fight. But I'm a little older with a little less spark. I have one more in me, of this, I am sure!

I have my last lower spinal fusion scheduled for this coming Wednesday, Feb. 25 at 5:30am. I have done all of the pre-op testing, paperwork and was told that my procedure was covered because I had met my deductible last year (no real shocker there.) Last Thursday I got a call stating that after reviewing, my insurance company has denied my claim. This shocked me. I have put so much money and sweat equity into my healing that my jaw dropped when I received the news. Health insurance sucks. Big time. Which is why I am here shamelessly begging my friends for help. I'm going "All In" on this one. Every chip is going in the pot. I'm either going to "Win Big" or "Lose Big!" Meaning, if this procedure is as successful as we hope it to be, then I will, once again, be walking without assistance. I'll be able to lift my legs and stretch without the feel of lightning bolts shooting down my legs. If not, I'll be putting all of my chips (potato chips) in at the lunch table in the old folk's home. Because I can't keep working 40 hours, maintain my house, body or garden with my body jabbing me at every turn. They are asking that I have the neurosurgeon's (whom I love and trust with my life) fee up front. Estimated at $9,320 (Ugh.) I have raised $3,000 and I have roughly another $1,200 to add (wish I would've waited on the new tires.) And that doesn't include the anesthesiologists or hospital stay.

I am now left with trying to raise $4,600 to offset the difference. I love celebrating "It's not my Birthday" days. Welp, this year I want to celebrate my real birthday, March 8 with a new spine. I am feeling really good about this one. I have won every battle up to this point. Now I want to win the war!

So, I am calling on all of my knights, soldiers, prince's, princesses to help me win this war. Because it is clear that I can't do it alone. And someone once told me, "It never hurts to ask."