Support My Spinal Surgery and Help Me Get Back to Creating!

Howdy!

My name is Grace. I’m an artist, YouTuber, and costume maker who glues things to other things.

Creating art has been my deepest passion for as long as I can remember. Over the past two years, I’ve been working hard to turn that passion into a full-time career. Last year, I was gaining momentum on YouTube, putting out a video every month, working out daily, and feeling stronger than ever! My husband and I were even in the process of closing on our very first home.

Then, in September, I herniated a disc and damaged my sciatic nerve.

Since that day, my life has completely changed. No more conventions, no more spending 18 hours obsessively building things in the workshop. I can’t sit, drive, bend over, or even walk my dog without pain. That was seven months ago.

I was misdiagnosed twice and told it was just a muscular issue—not a herniation—so I tried to push through it like everything was normal. That only made things worse. Eventually, we got an MRI, saw the herniation, and started physical therapy. It helped in some ways but caused sharp pain in my spine. Still, I kept going.

We finally found a doctor who had helped a friend in the past and specializes in lower back injuries. After reviewing my scans, he showed us that my L5-S1 disc has worn down significantly since the start of treatment—likely due to the PT—and that the compression is severely impacting my sciatic nerve. I’ve been living with constant, 24/7 pain, and even medications only take the edge off.

We’ve decided the best course of action is a minimally invasive Laminectomy to relieve pressure on the nerve and finally give me a chance at healing. The collapsed disc will have to be dealt with down the road, but right now, this surgery is my shot at getting my life back.

For the first time in months, I feel hopeful.

I’m so ready to return to the life I love—creating intricate costumes, making videos, moving into our first home, and reconnecting with the convention community that means the world to me. I’ve worked so hard to find my purpose, and before the injury, I truly felt like I was just hitting my stride. Going from 100 mph to a full stop has been devastating—but I haven’t lost hope.

If you’re able to help support my surgery and recovery, even a little, it would mean everything to me and my family. Every donation, every share, and every kind word brings me one step closer to healing—and back to the work and the world I love.

Thank you for reading, for caring, and for believing in me. I can’t wait to come back stronger, more creative, and more grateful than ever.

– Grace