Hi everyone, I’m June.
I am a disabled service worker with scoliosis and hip dysplasia, and I am currently working as much as I physically can, even as my health has continued to decline. The toll on my body has been immense and the physical reality of my situation is making it impossible to keep working and living the way I used to. By the end of my work week, I require several days of bed rest just to be able to feel okay enough to work again. This fundraiser is a last-ditch effort to help me get this PAO surgery I need to restore my quality of life.
I have always tried to be a light in the lives of those around me and a shoulder to cry on because I genuinely care about people’s wellbeing, but I don’t often afford myself the same consideration. It is incredibly hard for me to ask for help, even when I desperately need it. Usually I just try to figure out things on my own, but I’ve reached a point where I am unable to move forward without some financial help.
The Problem: Hip Dysplasia
- I have hip dysplasia in my right hip, meaning that the bone doesn’t correctly fit in its socket. For years, almost all of the movement in my hip joint has been grinding down my bone and cartilage. It’s reached a point where standing or walking for long periods of time is difficult if not impossible. Even a single loop around the park is incredibly draining.
- Unfortunately, at the moment, heavier activities like jogging aren’t possible without excruciating, shooting pain from my hip down to my ankle. To make matters even more complicated, I was diagnosed with scoliosis at 9 years old, so I don’t have a stable spine to support my damaged hip. The scoliosis progresses slowly every year and it has been greatly contributing to the pain and lasting fatigue throughout my daily life. I used to be much more active before my hip dysplasia started limiting my ability to participate in the activities I love. I love going for long walks and playing pickup baseball, and I’ve even hiked the Grand Canyon twice. My dream is to hike it again someday after I’ve recovered.
The Solution: Periacetabular Osteotomy (PAO)
- I am currently preparing for a Periacetabular Osteotomy, or PAO for short. PAO is a highly technical hip preservation surgery which aims to reposition the pelvic bone to better cover and stabilize the hip joint. PAO is primarily done for adolescent and young-adult patients to preserve the hip joint so that a hip replacement isn’t necessary in the near future. The surgery involves making 4 precise cuts in the pelvis, repositioning and securing the pelvic bone with long, surgical screws, so it has a very difficult recovery process.
Recovery from PAO
- Recovery times can vary, but PAO has a long recovery timeline due to the nature of the surgery. I will require 4-6 months of physical therapy and extended rest post-surgery. At the 2 month mark, I will be able to put 50% of my weight on my right side. And it can take 6-12 months to return to full activity. I will be unable to return to work for a while, and even when I do, it could take an even longer time to work enough hours to support myself. In addition, my job has a very limited number of opportunities available that don’t require full mobility.
Where will the money be going?
- Between monthly bills, rent, vet bills for my senior cat, medical debt, and mounting medical expenses, I haven’t been able to save nearly enough for my upcoming medical bills. Donations from this GoFundMe will help pay for my surgery, hospital stay, 4-6 months of physical therapy, transportation, and rent and essential living expenses as I will be unable to work for much of my recovery. My partner will be the only source of income for our household, and she cannot cover all of our bills alone, and I certainly wouldn’t ask her to carry that entire burden.
Getting this surgery now is vital to stopping the damage to my hip and helping me get back to the things that I love. If you are able to donate, please know that it is going towards a life-changing medical necessity. If you can’t donate, sharing this link on your social media would mean the world to me. Thank you for listening to my story and helping me get back on my feet.
Many thanks,
June Cluff
Organizer
