Jaye's Laser Spine Surgery Fund

My name is Jaye McClure and I am retired after 30 years as a N.C. State Law Enforcement Ranger at Hanging Rock State Park in NC.  My job required that I live on site – and I was subject to be called back in at any time. I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia around 1996 – but was determined that it was not going to slow me down and I continued to work so I could earn my retirement.  My rheumatologist said I was the hardest headed and most determined patient he had.  I said it was just mind over matter.  I even planned to get another job after retirement.  Finally I was able to retire at age 55 because of the years I had in with the Park Service.

Prior to retirement – at the age of 45 – I married (for the first and only time) the love of my life: Farrell McClure who also worked at the park as a maintenance mechanic.

I was an only child – and since both of my parents had passed away – I inherited the house I grew up in.  A year or so before my retirement – I took out an Equity Loan against the house and used the money to upgrade floors, bathrooms, kitchen, etc. from the “1960’s” (when the house was built) to make it a little more modern…and at the same time did little things to make the house Farrell’s and mine.  Each month – I am able to pay only the interest on my loan – and know that I will be making payments for the rest of my life.  That is okay – as a lot of ranger’s who retire do not have a place planned to go to.  So in that respect – I am lucky. 

After I inherited the property – it was annexed (against our will) into the city of Winston-Salem – which made our property tax (now county and city) go out the roof.  I promised my Mom – right before she passed away – that I would keep the house as long as I could afford the taxes. (Of course when I made that promise – it was only county taxes).

Right before my retirement – my husband Farrell became sick and could no longer work.  After many tests, hospital stays, doctor visits, etc. – it was determined that he had: Bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia (BOOP), also known as cryptogenic organizing pneumonia. It is somehow tied into the rheumatoid arthritis that he has and it depletes the amount of oxygenated blood that gets to his brain.  At the time – he had no insurance so we sold whatever we thought had any value to pay towards the bills – until we could pay no more.  There went his credit.  Finally – he went on Social Security Disability.  The BOOP continued to progress until the doctors finally determined that he would need a double lung transplant.  But the many trips we began to make to Duke Hospital in Durham, NC made him feel weaker each time.  A transplant was also going to require that he go off the strong medicine that he takes for his arthritis. Farrell decided based on the many requirements and logistics against the transplant. 

Last September – I found out that I had 2 bulging herniated disks in my back that were causing pressure and terrible pain that even went down my right leg. (I figured it was the result of wearing law enforcement defensive equipment around my waist for 30 years).  3 Epidurals in my back and physical therapy did not help.  The doctors decided to go in and cut off the piece of bone that was hitting the nerve causing pain down my leg.  That fixed my leg pain – but they did not fix my bulging herniated disks.  I feel they fixed a symptom – but didn’t fix the problem.

Farrell is now on O2 every hour of every day.  8 continuous liters– he has 20% use of his lungs. I am his sole caregiver.  I change out his e-tanks, and help him regulate the air flow. When for some reason – he feels like he is not getting enough air – he panics and hyperventilates. I remind him to slowly breathe through his nose and out his mouth and talk to him until the rhythm slows down. He no longer drives – so I take him to his doctor appointments.  I go in with him because if he is having a bad day breathing – and not enough oxygenated blood is getting to his brain – he cannot remember everything and gets things confused.  So – I go in with him to the doctor to be his ears and brain. Since he often does not remember everything – we talk about details later on a better day. He sleeps on a bed with his head raised so he can breathe and his feet raised so they won’t swell. If I check on him at night and he is snoring – I remind him to breathe through his nose…which I know he is not doing because he is snoring (!!)  If his feet swell – I make sure he takes his Lasix to draw off the fluid. I try not to leave him too many hours at a time nor go too far – in case he needs me and I always have my cell phone.  I realized that a second job after retirement was not in the stars for me – I am to be the love of my life’s sole caregiver.

Since my bulging herniated disks were not fixed – I have back pain every day.  Some days it is almost unbearable – feeling like my backbone is going to pop out of my skin.  My toes, top and ball of my right foot are numb. Sometimes it feels like there is a lit cigarette being held under my big toe. If my back were to “blow out” – there is no one to take care of Farrell and me both.  I can’t have back surgery because I know I cannot leave Farrell several days alone (day or night) for me to be in the hospital. At times I get irritable if I have to get up several times for him – because it absolutely kills my back.  Then it makes me feel selfish because his BOOP is way more serious than my aching back.  But it makes it hard to be a good caregiver for Farrell when my back is hurting me so bad. 

I have seen the commercials about laser spine surgery.  It only takes a day – and they say you walk out with no pain.  I checked with my health plan – and they said that since I had not yet met any of my deductible it would cost me close to $4000 out of pocket to have it done.  I have worked it out so a friend (from out of town) could stay with Farrell that day; and another could drive me to and from surgery. If I can raise the money – I will call my spine doctor for an appointment and go from there. Being a caregiver – with no back pain – would be a blessing. I love Farrell and want to be able to take care of him as long as I can with the hopes that someday there will be a cure for BOOP – and we can both enjoy retirement.

If money raised is greater than $4000 – it will go towards our property tax this year.  As of yet we have not had any extra money to put towards this either – which will be due before you know it.

I want to thank – in advance – any and all of the people that might see a way to help me fund my surgery.