Help Me Walk Pain Free Again: Funding For StemCell Treatment

Aloha, friends and family. It deeply saddens me to have to ask for your help, but as of right now, I unfortunately have no other option. Those who are closest to me know I am not lying when I say the past couple years of my life have been filled with an unbearable amount of physical pain. Two years ago, I popped some discs out of place in my lower back, tore the inside and outside of my meniscus on both knees, and tore parts of my LCL‘s on both knees, as well. Since then, I have lost my ability to work, take care of myself on my own, and my doctors at Kaiser have given up on me because they believe the injuries I’ve sustained are “too far gone.”

Thankfully, about a year ago, I discovered a treatment that could help me in my situation. The only downfall is that it’s in the mainland, it’s not covered by insurance so I would need to pay out of pocket, and the total cost is $3,000 per knee. The procedure is a series of Stem Cell injections into the areas of my knees that have been injured. It would require about 1-2 months of recovery so the stem cells can grow back the areas of my knees that’ve been damaged/ torn.

In this past year, I’ve already done 3 rounds of injections in both knees ($3k left knee + $3k right knee = $6k each round of injections) with the total coming out to $18,000. My family and I have exhausted all of our funds to pay for these procedures, BUT THE GOOD NEWS is it’s working and the progress I’ve made after each round of injections is nothing short of a miracle.

Before my first round of injections, I couldn’t even walk from my bedroom to the bathroom without needing assistance. I couldn’t drive, I couldn’t cook for myself, and I couldn't even sleep because of the unbearable amount of pain that I was experiencing every single day. Now, after 3 rounds of injections, the pain levels have gone down significantly, and I’m finally able to walk again but with the assistance of knee braces, anti-inflammatory medication and pain killers prescribed by my doctors. Which is a lot better, but still no way to live my life and not sustainable in the long run.

Although I’ve made a huge improvement, I unfortunately still can’t work or do normal daily activities because my knees will swell up after trying to stand or walk for long periods of time, which is an indicator that there’s still more healing that needs to take place. Although I’m nowhere near where I used to be before my first round of injections, I still have one more treatment before I hopefully reach 100% and can live a normal life again. My new doctors in the mainland feel confident that these last injections should hopefully get me back to normal, but I won’t be able to do that without your help.

I’m in need of $6,500 to cover the injections in both knees and the round trip flight from Oahu to Los Angeles. Once again, it deeply saddens me to have to ask for support, but I unfortunately have no other choice and wouldn’t be asking unless I desperately needed it. Any amount you can donate would not only make a significant difference, but it would also help change my life for the better in the long run.

If you can’t help financially, your prayers and reposting this page would be just as helpful and very much appreciated. Despite my circumstances, I am still filled with hope and faith that I will not have to deal with this pain/ limitations forever. The weapon may be formed, but it will not prosper, and I’m excited, hopeful, and expectant for the healing in my body that’s to come.

Thank you so much for all the love and support!