Jan Gassman - medical expenses

Hello, Jan Gassman was medevaced to Seattle for medical care on July 16. She was originally told she had 2 months to live but one of her doctors up north encouraged her to get a second opinion. Thank God she did- she is being well taken care of in Seattle after an emergency operation on her spine. Prior to the operation she was in immense pain for weeks and trying to deal with it and get help in Sitka. The infection ate two of her vertebrae along with the cartilage separating the vertebrae.

The surgeons had to clean out the infection removing deteriorated bone and tissue. They placed a cage around her spinal cord to replace the bone that was removed and they had to fuse together multiple vertebrae to stabilize her back. The hospital she is at now still doesn’t know exactly what the infection was but took a culture during her surgery. It will be a long road to recovery and she could use any help you can provide. She is a proud woman but needs help so we are putting this out for her.

We know she will have to do rehab before she can come home to Sitka and she has a mortgage to pay as well as other fixed monthly expenses that need to continue to be paid. Funds raised will pay any medical bills that arise, and her other usual bills and a small amount for the expenses for Ted to stay down in Seattle as he has gone to Seattle with her and won’t return until she is placed in a great rehab facility. We don’t know how long she will have to stay in the hospital or the rehab facility. We spoke with her roommate recently who also had an infection in her spine and had an operation to address it, her surgery was 3 months ago.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. We want to let you know in advance we appreciate your generosity.

Ted, Lisa and Emma Gassman

Mike Gassman