My husband, Delbert Jr., has endured 7 spinal surgeries in the last 3 years and is now looking at spine surgery number 8 at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, AZ, on 05/05/2026. Delbert had been walking steel as a fireproofer for about 10 years until his feet could not feel the steel, making it unsafe for him to continue working in October of 2022 when he was originally taken out of work. He was our main source of income, and when he was taken out of work, we pretty much lost everything and had to move in with family.

In late 2022, Delbert got foot drop in his left foot and will permanently have to wear an AFO brace to help support his foot. In late 2022, he underwent his first of many spinal surgeries to remove an AV fistula. Our daughter, Trinity, was born just shortly after Delbert had his first surgery, and for the first 2 years of her life, she was pretty much raised in the hospital as her dad was in and out due to surgeries and procedures. Almost all the hospital staff knew Trinity by name and watched her grow from a newborn.

Delbert has had to give up his hobbies of fishing, camping, and hiking due to his mobility issues, and he has a difficult time driving since he can’t feel anything with his feet. His original neurosurgeon referred Delbert to a different doctor who has ties to the Mayo Clinic, and it’s preferred that the surgery happens at the clinic to prevent him from going paralyzed. Since Delbert has been out of work, I have been our only source of income for him, myself, and our 3 kids, as I only work part-time due to being pregnant. We had the funds set aside to get him down there, but a sudden death in my family happened, and we had to use those funds to take care of my father’s property and body.

Anything will be greatly appreciated as life has thrown us a curveball. I just want to get my husband the medical help he needs and deserves so he can finally have a somewhat normal life with our kids and be able to hold our son when he’s born without any difficulties if he becomes paralyzed.