Hi, my name is Lena. My hubby Owen had received his first surgery March 27th for cervical stenosis. He has his neck fused along with bone fragments replaced in his C5 and C7. He was fused from his C2 to T2. Owen needed to have this surgery done within a year as he was told if he didn’t he would become completely paralyzed.

After receiving the first surgery, he stayed in the hospital for 6 days and we had already started to notice set backs the second day but we were reassured that this was “normal.”

We left the hospital thinking we were being given the green light that all would be well and that after having 42 staples and adding 14 more stitches that we wouldn’t have to worry about him leaking fluids. We were home the evening after being sent home and I had noticed leaking and didn’t feel it was right and only having to take him back to the hospital for the next week and than we found ourselves returning to the RUH hospital again only to find out he would need to get surgery all over again.

Week two and four days we find our selves in the OR and after completing they said he was covered in a deep tissue infection and on his spine including all his hardware they put in the first time, had to be replaced along with a couple more bone fragments. He is not out of the woods yet. We are waiting for culture tests to return and this could be a staff infection he got when the first surgery happened. This explains all the bleeding out he was doing and was not the fluid they claimed to be the healing fluid. In the words of the surgent a mistake or mishaps happen. There is no room for error when it comes to someone’s life left in their hands.

This has not been easy on either of us along with our families.

We have now been set back financially as I have not been able to return to work due to all complications and having to return to the hospital and staying to advocate for him. I have been by his side as the second surgery has taken its toll on him a lot more than the first did. We are waiting for insurance to kick in on my end and with all the hotel and air b&b costs prior and along with the stay that I’m here for now and looking to another 7-10 days has become a lot. This is not including gas back and forth as I do need to return home time to time to check on my life there as well. Parking and food for myself and at times to feeding Owen something different from hospital food. We are now racking credit cards as I wait for my insurance to kick in which at this time will only be 60% of what I make. With the encouragement of family members, we decided to admit we do need help at this time. Owen will also have to attend weekly visits to the RUH every week to see his surgeon for the next few weeks after being released along with getting antibiotics through a pic line each day. Thank you for understanding the need we are asking for help with. Life can not go back to normal fast enough for us both along with our families. Prayers we still ask for and we can leave my email if you choose not to go through the gofund me page. We appreciate you all and thank you for your support. Lena and Owen