HELP SONIA DANCE AGAIN

Dearest Friends and Loved ones ,

Dance Students, and Fellow performers

I tend to have a hard time asking for help.

But if there was ever a time, this is it.

As most of you know I've made my livelihood teaching dance fitness, movement and performing most my life.

A profession that comes with its fair share of aches and pains.

Most of which I muscle through - "grit and bear it"

"The show must go on" is always the vibe.

Among those countless aches I've had the most persistent has been in my left shoulder and left hip. ( no matter how much yoga, barre, PT and functional training I put myself through

While here in Dominican Republic for a family christening, one spin around the dance floor with my baby cousin did me in.

The pain alongside the left side of my body and down my back was enough to seek immediate medical attention.

The x rays and imagining revealed a most dangerous and distressing diagnosis.

Severe compression and fissures along the cervical and lumbar spine. causing restriction of adequate circulation to the brain impairing cognitive function

The doctor said

one more dance class and can end up in a wheelchair

one more workout and I can pass out and cause brain damage

one more head whip and I can end up paralyzed

She was shocked I was even standing, given the lack of circulation in my extremities

I was immediately put on bed rest with a neck brace and back brace

and 13 injections to start.

And absolutely NO MOVEMENT

I need to remain here in the Dominican Republic in order to receive intensive daily treatment/ therapy for a minimum of two to three months with the hopes that my body will respond positively to treatment and I can avoid a more complicating and invasive surgery

prevent any further possible damage to my cognitive functions

and save my ability to properly move and DANCE AGAIN

I was not financially ready for this.

I was not emotionally ready for this.

But here we are, and I'm surrendering to this lifesaving treatment with the humility and deep gratitude that this was caught in time before I suffered irreparable damage to both my body and brain

I am asking for financial support to cover my medical expenses and living expenses while I am unable to work.

If you are in a position to contribute I most humbly thank you for your kindness, support and generosity.

With your help, the powers that be, the universe, my ancestors, all the spirit world who has literally been hold me up by some miraculous

thread, and of course team of doctors here in the Dominican Republic

I have faith that I will make a full recovery and I will DANCE AGIAN.

my love and deepest gratitude

Sonia de Luna