Help for Laurie's Hip
Donation protected
To walk my little doggies, Rosie and Bruce, that is my goal.
I have limped my entire life and was always told that my right leg was shorter than my left. But was always misdiagnosed. Arthritis, broken hip and "I don't know what is wrong with your hip". Were all responses I got from doctors. Despite that I became a dancer and a dance teacher and rode horses as well.
Within the past six years my hip got worse. I had had pain in my hips and back most of my life so to me that was normal. But it started to get so bad that I needed a cane to walk and then could only teach dance sitting down with a helper to demonstrate the steps.
Then, three years ago I lost my business due to my condition and went on disability. Also at that time my life partner of 28 years was diagnosed and ultimately passed away from cancer. Having no family I suddenly found myself alone and unable to do many things for myself because of my hip. I bought and am now using a rolling walker to get around.
Searching out someone to help I found an orthopedic doctor who finally gave me a correct diagnosis of hip dysplasia, the same condition dogs can have. He said I was born with it and should have had it taken care of as a baby. Basically, I have very very shallow hip sockets and the ball slips in and out many times a day. I have also found an excellent surgeon who will do total hip replacement in January, 2015. He is confident that I will be able to regain mobility and walk unaided. The problem is the only insurance I have is Medicare hospitalization. So I personally need to cover the hospital deductable which is $1260 and the surgeon fee which is $2000. Those are all of the fees I know about at the moment. I have set up an account at the hospital and can start paying for it now. This is difficult because the meager disability check I get once a month doesn't go very far so I will have to skimp on food in order to make payments. I'm hoping the surgery will allow me to be able to do some kind of work in the future. But for now I would like to ask for help in paying these bills.
I have always loved walking dogs and going for walks and hope that I will be able to do that again in the very near future.
I have limped my entire life and was always told that my right leg was shorter than my left. But was always misdiagnosed. Arthritis, broken hip and "I don't know what is wrong with your hip". Were all responses I got from doctors. Despite that I became a dancer and a dance teacher and rode horses as well.
Within the past six years my hip got worse. I had had pain in my hips and back most of my life so to me that was normal. But it started to get so bad that I needed a cane to walk and then could only teach dance sitting down with a helper to demonstrate the steps.
Then, three years ago I lost my business due to my condition and went on disability. Also at that time my life partner of 28 years was diagnosed and ultimately passed away from cancer. Having no family I suddenly found myself alone and unable to do many things for myself because of my hip. I bought and am now using a rolling walker to get around.
Searching out someone to help I found an orthopedic doctor who finally gave me a correct diagnosis of hip dysplasia, the same condition dogs can have. He said I was born with it and should have had it taken care of as a baby. Basically, I have very very shallow hip sockets and the ball slips in and out many times a day. I have also found an excellent surgeon who will do total hip replacement in January, 2015. He is confident that I will be able to regain mobility and walk unaided. The problem is the only insurance I have is Medicare hospitalization. So I personally need to cover the hospital deductable which is $1260 and the surgeon fee which is $2000. Those are all of the fees I know about at the moment. I have set up an account at the hospital and can start paying for it now. This is difficult because the meager disability check I get once a month doesn't go very far so I will have to skimp on food in order to make payments. I'm hoping the surgery will allow me to be able to do some kind of work in the future. But for now I would like to ask for help in paying these bills.
I have always loved walking dogs and going for walks and hope that I will be able to do that again in the very near future.
Organizer
Laurie Smalis
Organizer
Farmington, MI
