If you don’t know me, my name is Rose. I’m 25, I’m a writer and artist and restorative practitioner, and I’ve been living with disabling chronic illness for the past three years. I love people watching in the park, cuddling my cats, drawing with pastels, eating spicy food, spending time with my friends, facilitating restorative circles for my community, and being outside on a cold and sunny day.

I am so tired of the pain and immobility I live with. I am tired of dealing with neurogenic bladder. I want to live a full life and be in good health. In order to do so, I need a spinal cord detethering/laminectomy and a cervical spinal fusion at C1-2. Because I have Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and my spinal conditions are severe, I need to have these surgeries with an expert in EDS. Thankfully, we have connected with a world-class neurosurgeon with a specialty in EDS who has moved quickly to create a surgical plan and schedule me for the surgeries, which will take place in mid February and mid-March. Insurance will cover the hospital stay and associated costs with the surgeries, but the neurosurgery fees for the specialist are not covered by insurance. The total cost of the surgery fees is 37,000.

These surgeries are the best shot I have at reducing my chronic pain and regaining my bladder function. They are the best shot I have at walking again. I appreciate your support more than I can say.