Friends, I could use your help. I’ve got spine surgery coming up in 7 days, and recovery is going to be a challenge. My PCA will be with me covering daily basics , but there are additional things I need to make recovery safer, easier, and a little more comfortable.
A little background:
My health has been really suffering. I haven’t worked since September 2023, and both my physical and mental health have only gotten worse. I’ve had four surgeries since then, and now I’m facing cervical spine surgery next week. I deal with severe chronic pain from multiple sources — arthritis, fibromyalgia, muscles, and nerve issues. In the past few months, my arms and hands have regularly gone numb or had pins-and-needles or burning sensations from spinal compression in my neck.
Words of encouragement are welcome!
My disability is causing increasing isolation for me, and I would love to reconnect, even in a small way. Send a DM or message — hearing from you makes recovery a lot less lonely.
This fundraiser will go toward:
- Food & Essentials (~$300): Shelf-stable snacks, freezer meals, canned goods, and groceries
- Recovery Gear (~$140): Extra ice packs, a second heating pad, and a cervical/wedge pillow
- Comfort & Sanity (~$80): PowerAid, personal care items, and reactivating either Netflix or Disney+
- Household Essentials (~$130): Cleaning supplies, pet food, and whatever else I have forgotten but will need while laid up
Other ways you can help:
- Short in-person visits or video chats for sanity
- Be on my short list to ask if I need an errand run while I’m less mobile
- Walking my dog Zap if you’re up for it
Why extra support matters right now:
I normally meal-prep my own affordable meals and use food shelves and assistance programs when needed. Right now, using my walker is really hard due to hand pain and cramping, and walking in general is more difficult, so going out isn’t a good option. My hands get worse with activity, so I limit typing and other tasks, making online searching and applying for help difficult. On top of that, neck pain itself has a big impact beyond these functional limitations, affecting daily living and mobility. My pantry is looking pretty sad, so I need easy, ready-to-eat meals and support for basic essentials.
Every contribution helps me focus on healing instead of scrambling to cover basics. Thank you all for always having my back (get it? I know, my sense of humor is terrible).