Help fund life-changing Osseointegration surgery.

Hi everyone! PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR TWO MAJOR UPDATES!!

Here's a quick not-so-medical about me to start things off:

"I have been a regularly performing professional musician for the past 35+ years earning a living performing for live audiences in the UK and continental Europe as well as in Canada, the US, and Mexico. That I am unable to physically get onto a stage (let alone perform) at this time is not only fantastically difficult to deal with but also a significant hindrance to my effectively supporting my family financially."

My appeal:

My name is Steve, and I need help to fund Osseointegration surgery and the required rehabilitation and recovery.

This surgery will be life-changing for me as, currently, I am unable to walk with a prosthetic without significant pain and assistance and am confined to a mobility scooter to get around much of the time.

I've been an above-knee amputee since 1984, when both of my legs very badly injured in a motorcycle crash which resulted in the above-knee amputation of my right leg. Until the past few years, I have been lucky enough to remain relatively active and mobile thanks to wearing a conventional prosthetic limb. Unfortunately, thanks to the passage of time and not getting any younger (!), I have literally worn a part of my body out and, as a result, I can no longer wear my usual prosthetic. The skin on my residual limb has become so damaged that, in some areas, there's more scar tissue than actual skin. Because of its nature, scar tissue does not stretch or move with the elasticity of normal skin. Consequently, wearing a regular prosthetic is extremely painful and, of late, caused the skin to break down, tear, and become infected. My specialist instructed me to stop wearing my prosthetic in October of 2021. As I also injured my left leg in the 1984 crash, using crutches isn't an option for me....the prosthetic has often been my 'good' leg, as it were!

Not being able to wear my prosthetic has had a devastating effect on both myself and my family. Not just in terms of what it's meant in terms of adapting to a lack of mobility and the logistics that accompany that aspect, but also in terms of mental health issues like depression. I know all too well that I have not been the greatest person to be around for my daughter, my family and many of my friends since these issues started to really affect me a few years ago. I have also had to rely on my family and friends far more than ever before with everyday menial tasks and activities.

This has also seriously affected my ability to work to full capacity and, as a performing musician, I have physically not been able to get on stage in over a year now.

The Osseointegration surgery removes the need for the conventional socket on the prosthetic. Instead it creates a direct connection of the prosthetic limb to the residual femur via a titanium implant. (As opposed to putting my residual limb into a high-tech plastic bucket!) This negates all of the discomfort issues associated with conventional sockets while improving gait, bone density, musculature, control, stamina, and gives far more detailed feedback of the surface that one's walking on.

Having this surgery would enable me to return to an active lifestyle that would see me participating in and supporting my family in the way that I used to be able to do. But, actually, with far greater comfort and mobility than before. My specialist has officially referred me for the surgery. I have already travelled to Montreal for a day of detailed assessment and to meet the surgeon, Dr Turcotte, and his team. I have been fully approved as a viable candidate for the procedure and it was universally agreed that it would be positively life-altering for me. Due to inter-provincial red tape (I live in BC, Canada and the surgery is only available in Montreal, QC), the funding for the surgery has not yet been forthcoming, as I would be the first amputee from B.C. to receive this particular surgery the government’s decision process will be lengthy, and not expected until well into the next year.

UPDATE: *** I HAVE JUST RECEIVED CONFIRMATION THAT BC WILL BE FUNDING MY SURGERY!!! So, what this means is that I no longer need to raise funds for the surgical part of this medical journey. I do, however, still need help with the travel and accommodation expenses as these will not be covered by any of the Provincial funding. There is still debate as to whether BC will fund the supply of an up-to-date prosthetic knee too. I have adjusted my fundraising goal accordingly. ***

So, I just need funding and don't want to wait any longer...that's why I'm turning to you, the kind people of GoFundMe.

UPDATE 2: ***I have finally made it to Montreal and have had the surgery!!!  Everything looks good from the surgical perspective but I still don’t know how long I will be required to stay here post-op to receive the rehabilitation and physiotherapy treatment that will be assessed once I begin those therapies. With the increased financial demands that we’re all facing these days, the amount that I had raised previously (and I’d thought would be adequate) is not going to go anywhere near as far now.  ***

The procedure will involve two further trips to Montreal for two separate stages of surgery as well as extensive rehab. Some of this rehab will be in Montreal as an outpatient, so I will also require accommodation for the duration of that stay. I also won't be able to work immediately after each stage of the surgical process. I may also need to update my prosthetic knee (which is not, at this time, covered by BC MSP / Pharmacare).

Many, many thanks if you've taken the time to read this far.

All the best,

Steve.

Here's a link to a youtube video that gives some insight into the benefits of Osseointegration:

https://youtu.be/SOg0w28Ju14