As a second grade teacher and a passionate athlete I have been living in some kind of nightmare for the past 13 months. For over a year I have been unable to walk without 1 or 2 crutches and I’ve been in crippling pain every single day. I have had to spend every weekend lying down on a couch in order to recover from the work week and every single evening has been spent recovering from each day. I have gone through many months of painful physical therapy, splinting and casting and I’m about to undergo my 3rd surgery in a year in order to regain function in my right knee and to properly use my leg. This has all taken a relentless physical and emotional toll. The cause is an unusual case of arthrofibrosis in my right knee.


This next surgery on March 26th will be the most aggressive one yet and it is the only option left. An uncommon open knee surgery will be performed by a well respected surgeon in Denver and it will require that I have an epidural catheter that will be connected to a pain pump for six weeks so that I can complete the intense rehab. The epidural catheter will be tunneled up my spine and come out of my chest and it comes with its own risks. I will need to be out of work and apart from my 2nd graders for at least six weeks.


What is arthrofibrosis? It is an uncommon disease that can form in a joint after some kind of trauma such as a severe injury or a surgery. The affected joint becomes clogged with abnormal fibrous tissue and this restricts the range of motion of the joint, making it quite stiff. The condition is very painful because tissue takes up what should be empty space and also the joint capsule contracts. My case is particularly unusual because my arthrofibrosis started spontaneously--none of my surgeons have seen a case like mine. In November of 2018 I had to have an extensive surgery by an expert at the Steadman Clinic in Vail to correct the arthrofibrosis and I was out of work for a month. When performed by an expert there is a less than 10% chance of the condition recurring. My arthrofibrosis did not take long to reoccur for unknown reasons.


The financial strain of the past year has been large on myself and my family and this is why I’m asking for help. We are hopeful this will be my last surgery but there is so much uncertainty with arthrofibrosis. All funds will go to medical expenses (surgery, epidural catheter, pain pump, home health care visits etc.) and also for cost of living because for the length of time I’m out of work I don’t get paid. Like many teachers I live paycheck to paycheck. My canine sidekick, Gromit, my family and I thank you for considering!