Help Corinne afford surgery to prevent paralysis

My name is Corinne Perry. I am a wife and mother who was born with spina bifida occulta and a tethered spinal cord. Over the years, this lead to syringomyelia which is caused by spinal fluid not being able to drain properly, causing fluid sacs to build up in my spinal column, compressing on the spinal cord. This is progressive and I have reached the point where I am needing multiple surgeries and procedures this year to live and prevent paralysis.

Without treatment, I am looking at paraplegia, quadropalegia, or even death.

I am scheduled for a laminectomy and spinal cord untethering which means removing the back of my vertebrae where the spinal cord is fused and untwisting it to allow proper drainage in the future, as well as inserting shunts in my spinal cord to drain the excess fluid. This is currently scheduled for August 20, 2025.

As things are now, I experience numbness so often that I have learned how to walk by feeling the pressure changes in my knees and upper thighs, and have been losing control of bodily functions, including controlling my hands and fingers. Speech ability is affected, and migraines are often, and uncontrolled by medication. This all impacts my ability to work. *Update - progressive symptoms have lead to being unable to sit up for more than 1-2hrs at a time without excessive pain which medication cannot control, that shoots down my legs and makes it difficult to use my legs. This is due to swelling in my lower spine that sitting up puts pressure on, causing increased pressure on my spinal cord.

While getting the MRIs of my spine that were needed to schedule with the neurosurgeon, they found masses on my thyroid (that were ruled concerning at the follow-up ultrasound) and lesions on my liver.

While not confirmed yet, the lesions could potentially be the cause of the digestive issues that began in January. Between New Year's and the end of April, I lost 40lbs. I struggle to eat most days, even with the assistance of 5 medications, and have even struggled with fluids and have dealt with dehydration so severe that my heart was affected. While the medications have helped a lot, I still continue to lose weight, just at a slower rate. This issue originally delayed getting treatment for my spine. The only confirmed answer is that I have gastritis. It isn't the full cause of my digestive issues, but makes them worse. As a result, my GI issues continue, but I cannot take any NSAIDs as that will make the GI issues worse to the point I will not be healthy enough for surgery, but caused the swelling to increase, speeding up the progressive symptoms.

The MRI also found 9 bulging disks, 3 vertebrae slipping forward, and 5 vertebrae wedged to the side - not counting the scoliosis I was diagnosed with at 12 which we only recently discovered was caused by the spina bifida occulta and tethered spinal cord. They also found a vertebrae improperly fused with another bone. It's a lot.

But back to the surgery.

Estimate for post-op care is 1-2 days in the hospital followed by 6 weeks out of work before returning with limited hours that I can slowly increase. It will take 9-12 months to fully recover.

I also have to see a different specialist to have tests run before and after surgery. This will be the best gauge at the success of the surgery. My neurosurgeon is hopeful that this surgery will diminish the symptoms in my upper spine, but it isn't a guarantee. There is a chance that I may need a 3rd surgery on my upper spine as they cannot operate on upper and lower spinal cord at the same time, and my lower spine is more urgent.

If post-op tests show any residual issues with my upper spine are not caused by the spina bifida occulta or the syringomyelia, but I am still experiencing symptoms in that area, at that point I will have to see an orthopedic surgeon to address the skeletal issues (bulging disks, wedged vertebrae, etc)

I had the thyroid biopsy on May 15 as a result of findings from the MRI and follow-up ultrasound. Praise God, the biopsy came back benign!

Unfortunately, through all of this, my employer decided to change insurance as of June 1. I will now have to pay a higher deductible for the new insurance to continue treatment.

I am also dealing with a lot of missed work. Between appointments, hospitalizations, and days I cannot function due to symptoms, my income is gravely affected, making it difficult to afford basic bills such as mortgage and utilities.

Also, most of my appointments and all of my specialists are in Houston, which involves a 3+ hour each way trip, wracking up travel expenses, including gas and wear and tear. We have already had to replace the battery, 2 tires, and the rear brakes as a result of increased travel.

For many appointments and tests, I am unable to drive myself after, so my husband, Gary, also has to take off work to bring me, affecting our income even more.

To make matters worse, the new issues of not being able to sit up has caused and increase in missed work. I am working with my employer and HR is trying to get me work accommodations to give me a laptop so I can work from a laying down position and reduced work hours as well as intermittent FMLA to ensure my position is secure as losing my job would mean losing my insurance which would make me unable to afford surgery. Unfortunately, my neurosurgeon has a policy where they will not complete any FMLA or work accommodation paperwork until the day of the surgery and if you need it beforehand, you need to get it from your PCP. And my PCP has a policy where she doesn't fill out any of that paperwork and if you need it, you are to get it from the specialist treating you. They have referred me to other specialists, but they don't have openings until September which means no help before surgery. I have reached out to dozens of other doctors, specialists, and medical centers in this region and either they cannot fill out the forms or don't have openings until my surgery date. I have also reached out to the hospital's patient advocacy team, but if I don't hear anything soon, I will have to go back to the hospital and possibly be admitted to get the paperwork I need or I risk losing my job.

***Update. After missing over a week of work due to pain, I wound up going to the ER on 7/22 where I was admitted due to symptoms progressing too quickly. Rather than the 1-2yr estimate I was given for paralysis, I had months. Surgery was completed on 7/28 and I was released on 7/31. Release was delayed due to my vitals being poor. I was almost moved to ICU as my pulse was 133 and blood pressure was 88/55 and they were concerned about organ failure. It took nearly 30 mins to get numbers into safe ranges. I was laying down the whole time.

I am now at home, but have to use a walker to get around, and need home healthcare and home physical therapy as I still cannot sit up for extended periods due to risk of blood clots and swelling. I am mostly bed bound and will remain so for the next several weeks.

The goal was updated to $10,000 to cover the increase in medical expenses and to be able to cover basic living expenses while I am out of work - both pre-op and post-op. The goal is decreased with any donations made outside of GoFundMe.

Any assistance is greatly appreciated. Even $5 adds up.

As always, any donations made outside of GoFundMe will be used to lower the goal so they will still be counted.

Please share, and above all, pray.

Pray for

Thank you to everyone who has already donated, and thank you in advance to everyone who is considering donating.

Above all, thank you for the prayers that have carried me this far, and for the continued prayers.

I have to have faith this will all work out.

I am healed.

I am whole.

For the glory of Jesus' name.

That has been ringing in my head the last few months. And while I'm not there yet. I have faith it will come. Some day.