My name is John & I recently had surgery to replace 2 cervical discs. I've been on unpaid leave since July 31st, 2026 with my last sick day used July 3rd (for related missed work).

I must first express how personally difficult it's been to expose my families struggle publicly. My husband and I have always been very private people. Our current situation has forced my hand to reach out. And I've also been forced to heed my own advice, "that is at some point in life we all need a little help and there is no shame in that".

Through my many years of working in the healthcare field this has been something I've told countless patients, residents, and clients. All of whom became my extended family. The culmination of the past 4 years of personal health struggles & several other poorly timed and costly surprises, has led us to this critical point.

In July of 2022 I was diagnosed with degenerative disc disease. After multiple doctor visits and months of physical therapy, I was able to bring my pain level to a manageable point. Over the next couple of years. Disc deterioration eventually led to a recent surgery to replace two discs in my cervical area.

My health took a major turn last year. When I was faced with back-to-back sinus infections that led to multiple doctor visits throughout the year. Multiple tests led to a diagnosis of an elongated styloid process and I was told that this along with chronic allergies was the cause. Once on the right cocktail of allergy medication the once chronic issue was manageable .

2025 was also the year I began my own personal journey into understanding my ADHD and seeking medication that would help manage the things that I struggle with daily. Multiple medications were tried and all failed to improve my personal struggle to this day and is still a work in progress.

This year my neck and nerve pain do to my cervical issues began to get worse. A lot of missed missed and more testing revealed that the deterioration of two discs had gotten to the point of needing replaced. I started medical leave in August with no more sick time available to use.

While dealing with the weight of all of this, my family discovered an old leak under the shower of our nearly 100-year-old farmhouse. It was discovered that the entire floor had rotted and needed to be replaced. Once the old floor was removed we found several plumbing issues and it was determined all new plumbing was needed. And the costs just kept piling on.

I spend my days pushing forward, while trying to heal, and looking for those silver linings. When I'm able, I find peace in sitting by my ornamental pond or walking through the nature of our land. I know that I have a long road ahead of me, and I'm trying to take it one day at a time.

Because these costs and lost income continue week after week, recurring donations would be especially helpful in giving us steady support for things like groceries, utilities, and monthly bills during this period without a paycheck. One-time gifts would also mean so much and help ease the pressure immediately. If you are able to give, in any amount, thank you from the bottom of my heart. If you cannot donate, sharing my fundraiser would also mean a great deal to my family and me. Again, thank you so much.