Hi everyone,

Most of you have watched my husband, Jon, fight left-ankle pain for the last 6½ years. What started as “probably just a sprain” has slowly taken away his ability to walk normally. At 31 years old, he now uses a cane almost every day, and the pain is constant. After years of dead-end appointments, a podiatrist finally found the real problem: a large bone spur, a congenital subtalar tarsal coalition (two bones in the back of his ankle are fused together), a chronically tight calf tendon, and even a bunion that formed because he’s been walking “wrong” to avoid pain. The only fix is major reconstructive surgery scheduled for December 22nd—just three days before Christmas.

During the procedure they will:

• Finish fusing one part of the joint for stability

• Break and realign another section to restore motion

• Lengthen his tight calf tendon

• Correct the bunion that the ankle issues caused

He’ll be completely non-weight-bearing for at least the first 2 weeks (crutches, knee scooter, no driving), then in a boot and slowly working back to walking. Full recovery—with physical therapy—will take many months. He’ll be out of work for a minimum of 6 weeks. He has some PTO and is applying for short-term disability, but even if it’s approved it only pays 66% of his paycheck, and we’re already stretched thin covering normal bills.

The hospital requires a $1,900 deposit by surgery day (December 22nd) just to let him go under anesthesia. The total out-of-pocket estimate is around $7,500+, and that’s after insurance. There are also up-front costs for every pre-op and follow-up appointment. We’ve drained everything we have just to get to this point, and Christmas for the kids is already looking pretty bare. Asking for help is incredibly hard, but we’re out of options. If you can give anything—$5, $10, $20—or even just share this page, it will directly help Jon finally get out of pain and get our family through the next few months.

Our immediate goal is $1,900 by December 22nd so the surgery isn’t cancelled. Anything extra will go toward the remaining hospital balance, physical therapy co-pays, and keeping the lights on while he can’t work.

Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts, for being our village. We promise to pay this kindness forward the second we’re back on our feet (literally).

All our love & gratitude,

Taylor & Jon

(and the kiddos who can’t wait to have their dad running around with them again)