Jessica ‘s Health, Surgery & Recovery

Jessica has been continually dealing with excruciating pain and discomfort in her neck, back and shoulders with it getting extremely worse over the past 18 months. After being referred to tons of doctors, multiple specialty clinics, and not getting any answers or finding someone willing to take her case on because of not only the level of risk but the level of expertise needed for over a year, she found a neurosurgeon in December at the Univeristy of Minnesota Health that gave her not only answers but is willing to help.

It stems from an old car accident where she was hit from behind.

She had a cervical fusion to C1-C2 with rods and screws and a metal plate placed in her neck and head. As well as, bone graft off her right hip that she has had constant pain from and recently found out was dug too deeply.

Come to find out the fusion of her C1 never fused properly and now her C1 is connected to the bottom of her skull and her brain stem is extremely kinked looking like a “C”, and there is extreme inflammation within the brain stem. Two current screws are loose with inflammation around them and one screw is pushing against her right ventricle artery. She also has a cyst on her C7.

So her surgery will consist of an ENT doctor making an invasive incision through her throat, and completely removing her C1 and by doing this, hopefully straightening out the brain stem. Then she'll get turned over and they’re going to take out all screws and hardware, including rods and metal plate and replace with newer and smaller ones in new locations. Then fuse her C2, C3 & C4 together with bone graft from her left hip. Limiting her range of motion even more. She will be on a feeding tube for 7-10 days.

In January Jessica and I will be traveling down to the U of M where Jessica will be undertaking her high risk surgery and long hospital stay. I will have to stay down in the Cities for about 2 weeks while Jessica stays in the hospital from the surgery as we are not sure yet where Jessica will be after her hospital stay. We’re hoping to get into a care facility to help her relearn some basic things like walking, eating and bathing herself. She is also going to be having ongoing treatment for the rest of her life pertaining to physical therapy, messages to help keep her muscles lose, and chiropractor monthly to adjust her hips.

With us being self employed, we will not be able to work during this time and will incur hotel, transportation and food expenses with having to be continually paying the monthly bills at home as well. We will need all the help we can get.....monetarily, meals, shop help, someone to just sit with her, as well as emotionally and spiritually. All while trying to make our kids life as normal as possible during this. We have 2 beautiful children, Jaelyn (6) in kindergarten and Jaxton (4) in pre-k. If you see them give them a hug.

This has been very hard for her to talk about and to ask for help. All proceeds from this will go directly to help us get through this road along with the difficult journey Jessica’s health and needs yet may occurred.

Please share this with your family and friends in doing what friends, family, neighbors, and even strangers do best, help take care of others in need.

Thank you!!