My name is Tomas, and I am 31 years old. I am launching a campaign to support myself due to chronic health conditions affecting my shoulders. I am a third-year social work student at Carleton University and an advocate for neurodiverse individuals, as I was born with nonverbal learning disorder, auditory processing disorder, and attention deficit disorder. Additionally, I had a colostomy last year to alleviate severe pelvic floor pain, and I injured my thumbs in an accident a few years ago. I have lived most of my life in pain due to these chronic health conditions and now face the distressing prospect of being unable to continue my advocacy and complete my education.

My ordeal began during my teenage years when I started experiencing constant pain in my shoulders. Over the past 20 years, this pain has led to the degeneration of my right shoulder due to a lack of cartilage, resulting in multiple rotator cuff surgeries. My right shoulder blade protrudes from my back, causing strain on the muscles and tendons—a condition known as scapular winging. This issue exacerbates the challenges in my left shoulder, likely due to compensatory mechanisms.

My left shoulder has also shown signs of degeneration, possibly stemming from structural issues and osteoarthritis. Like my right shoulder, it has multiple labral tears and has undergone rotator cuff stabilization surgery. Consequently, I had to withdraw from all my summer classes at Carleton University because I cannot sustain the required typing pace. Even daily tasks such as cleaning, showering, and eating have become significantly more challenging, sometimes forcing me to avoid these activities altogether.

The muscles surrounding my shoulders are almost constantly in spasm because stronger muscles like my latissimus dorsi muscle are suspected to be overworking and unable to compensate for the structural problems. I have had to undergo massage therapy about once a week to alleviate some of the pain, but it provides only temporary relief. As a result, I have spent thousands of dollars over the years. Last academic term, I had to withdraw from my practicum in the School of Social Work and a class due to this. Not only did I lose months of work, but I also lost thousands of dollars. This unfortunate pattern has repeated over the years.

Despite these difficulties, I remain hopeful. Following extensive assessments including physiotherapy, x-rays, ultrasounds, and MRIs, tendon transfer surgery has been proposed as a potential solution. However, the waiting period to see the surgeon is currently 20 months, with an additional nine months anticipated before the surgery can be performed. Unfortunately, I do not have the financial means to endure such a prolonged wait.

Therefore, I am seeking an alternative opinion regarding tendon transfer surgery from Dr. Stéphanie Hine at Ville Mont-Royal. There is evidence that this procedure could significantly improve my shoulder function, especially since manual stabilization substantially alleviates my pain. However, the costs associated with this surgery are considerable, approximately $30,000 CAD per shoulder, potentially reaching up to $40,000 CAD depending on materials and other factors. Considering the possibility of requiring surgery on both shoulders, the total expenses could amount to approximately $70,000 CAD, in addition to $325 for a consultation appointment, not including travel and stay expenses which could result in about $300.

Your support and contributions to my campaign would immensely alleviate the financial burden associated with accessing the necessary medical care. With your help, I hope to regain the ability to use my shoulders effectively, complete my undergraduate degree in Social Work, and continue advocating for neurodiverse individuals. I have lived most of my 31 years in pain, and I am looking forward to a pain-free future. I want a life where I can continue advocating for the unheard in our society, but I need your help! Additionally, I have not been able to swim in years because of my condition, and I would love to return to this activity, which is a key aspect of my life.

I intend to post frequent updates on the progress as there are multiple steps to getting the surgery done.

Thank you for your consideration.

Warm regards,

Tomas

Update - An appointment with a Dr Hinse next month on June 20! HUGE THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO HAS DONATED! https://www.instagram.com/reel/C7ScgbXxmnp/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Every dollar counts!