Hello friends,

I hate to ask, but I need your help right now. After close to 40 years of playing violin, my spine needs surgery. The recovery and physical therapy for an artificial disc replacement will last many months. My job is professionally playing and teaching violin, including touring internationally and recording studio work. After my spinal surgery, I'll be unable to work for a year or more. Please help in any way you can, large or small, by donating and sharing to your own social media. Everything helps.

Thanks and love,

Mary-Elizabeth

Without getting into the parts of my life I wish to stay private, here are how some of the funds will be used.

*SOME* EXAMPLES OF ONGOING AND CURRENT EXPENSES:

$4,000 - Current outstanding medical bills

Leading up to surgery)

$5,200 - Other medical bills

Essential, doctor-recommended medical services, that aren't covered (like massage) or fully-covered (like Acupuncture) by insurance

$3,000 - Transportation costs to medical appointments (over 12 months)

$2,700 - Other transportation

(Grocery, Pharmacy, a park outside the city for some fresh air)

I wasn't comfortable being open about my condition as it deteriorated over the last 18 months. It took securing a surgery date and my surgeon sharing info about how long recovery would be for me to finally be pushed to ask for financial help. While this is obviously an incomplete list, there are parts of my life that I wish to keep private, and I hope that you can understand.