Hello, friends.

I have Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (TOS). I was most likely born with extra cervical ribs on my C-7 vertebrae. This causes the already small channel where the nerves, veins, and arteries go into your arm to be even smaller. I have previously undergone bilateral rib resections to remove the extra cervical ribs in 2020 and 2021. The original surgeries were done at a local major teaching hospital by a surgeon who no longer performs them. When my doctor sent me back to said hospital with proof that I was one of the rare case of rib regrowth, they refused to even look at the evidence. They dismissed me with a “it can’t happen. There is nothing wrong.” My doctor has been trying to get me help since July when I was told by the other hospital that they wouldn’t help me. TOS surgery apparently is a very specialized procedure and most surgeons don’t do one after med school.

In the wee hours on Wednesday December 17, 2025, I woke up contorted in the worst pain I have ever experienced in my life. It went from my neck to my shoulder and down into my right deltoid. I couldn’t stand without the world going black. Laying down was out of the question. I finally found a position (purely out of frustration) that offered a modicum of relief. At the emergency doctor appointment (not with my PCP) it was determined, that the rib regrowth was pressing on nerves causing the pain. Over the last several weeks many things have been tried, all to no avail, to get me relief. At this point it looks like surgery may be the only option I have left. There is a referral in to the University of Penn Medicine in Philly, but who knows how long it will take for that to happen. In the meantime, I’m unable to work. This means that I do not have the money I need to pay for my rent or the utilities. This also means that Remi will be doing way more than she should have to do between running the bookstore and trying to keep up with her part of house hold stuff.

Any help you can offer would mean so much to me. Thank you.