Helping people is what I love to do, but now I need help and I'm reaching out to everyone I know.

Several months ago, I started having difficulties walking, very unstable keeping my balance. I waited for a referral and in December 2025, I got seen by Ortho. He looked at previous scans and felt I'd be good to "try PT," so I did. Barely able to move, I couldn't do PT, so I stopped and asked to see the Orthopedic doctor instead of the PA. A week later, now being seen by Ortho/spine specialist, he immediately knew there was an issue. Same day MRI of upper/lower back; call next morning telling me something I never expected, I have severe spinal compression at T4-6 - very uncommon, the disc is calcified which is even worse because surgery may paralyze me, it's in the chest area. Without surgery, the compression may also paralyze me as well.

Back and forth to doctors, still unclear of what can be done. My medical team is trying to get me the right level of care, UCLA or Barrows in AZ. There is a doc in LV willing to do surgery, a spinal fusion - taking out my spine from T4-7, not a surgery anyone really wants. My research and my medical friends helped me understand there are other options. I need a higher level with spinal specialists who have done this level of surgery at a tertiary facility. We lack these in LV.

It's been 3 months and I got the call; UCLA has been approved. Neurosurgeon/spinal specialist. THANK GOD!

I hold the insurance benefits for the family because my plan has better benefits for diabetic supplies for me and Nathan, who is also a T1 diabetic.

Since I haven't worked and insurance will be running out, I'm reaching out to ask for support to help pay medical bills, travel to UCLA for consults and surgery, and expenses, etc. It's all adding up fast. Without surgery, I'll be paralyzed and I'm not going down!

I'm fighting for my life and I need some help. Please consider a small donation to cut the burden on my family so we can breathe and get to the level of care I need.

All I want is to walk again, see my granddaughters, and go back to what I love, my job!