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We’d like to thank you in advance for reading this letter which gives you an idea of what is going on in the lives of Joey & Ahria Reimer and how we’d like to invite you to be part of it.
Early in Joey’s construction career he fell off a roof - 15 ft down and landed on his lower back. He saw a chiropractor and was back to work the next day. Then while Ahria was pregnant with their first child, Joey’s back was injured again on the job site. He was off work for several months to allow his back to heal. He was careful to do all the therapeutic exercises and treatments recommended. And when medical professionals gave the go-ahead to go back to work he did. These weeks off work were covered by WCB. He worked for a full year after that.
Until October of 2019.
His back pain had progressed to where he was losing feeling in his leg and foot. It was recommended he take time off work. This time WCB refused to cover it since there was no specific injury date and he’d previously been given clearance to go back to work.
So he went on EI sick leave. In November he was sent for X-rays. And then in December for an MRI. The follow up appointment for the MRI was in January. With the information given in the written report he was told he’d never return to his career in construction and would need to retrain. He was referred to back surgery in Brandon for a likely fusion - if they’d do the surgery at all. Since more than one disc was implicated the doctors indicated Brandon doctors might not perform the surgery.
However, after purchasing his MRI and X-rays results from the hospitals, his results have been examined by professionals who do back surgery regularly in Germany.
We have seen the results ourselves and have had them explained to us.
Professionals are shocked Joey is not paralyzed already. And he has only two options: paralysis or surgery.
But at 27 years old with baby #2 just 8-10 weeks from birth Joey, Ahria and their parents feel the only real option is surgery.
Because of the severe herniation of his discs, and the fact that the pressure in the spinal column is building, it’s likely he’ll be given a surgery date as early as March 10. Meaning leaving Manitoba in less than two weeks.
The challenge we are facing now is the cost of the surgery.
The trip and surgery costs will run about $65,000 (as our first reasonable estimation with firm numbers to come). In addition, they would need a minimum of 12-16 weeks living expenses as EI will not cover him any longer if he is not in retraining for a new career. Surgery and recovery time is not covered as he has already used up his allowed sick leave.
We are looking to raise approximately $78,000.
The surgery fees have to be paid at least one to two weeks in advance.
We don’t want to delay the surgery. Every day without the surgery is a day for possible paralysis. And once the paralysis hits, surgery cannot undo the damage. We don’t want that for this young family.
Ahria is not able to travel to Germany as she’s currently in the third trimester of pregnancy. Joey’s mom Mavis would be traveling with him as his support person.
We are asking for your help financially. We cannot do this alone. We trust fully in God’s plan and believe He has directed us to this path. We also know that He uses people and businesses to funnel His resources to the places He wants it to go.
So we are asking you - would you join us? As you can see the amount seems staggering to us. But every dollar counts.
If you can donate tens of thousands or ten dollars - we are grateful.
Depending on the results and the rate at which funds come in, we may plan additional fundraising events. We hope not to have to do that as we’d like to keep as early a surgery date as possible.
And of course prayer. We recognize God as both healer and provider. Here are some specifics to pray for:
• Quick raising of funds
• That no paralysis would set in before surgery
• For reduced stress during this waiting time on Ahria and their unborn baby
• For preparation for their 18 month old, Gryffon, as Joey will not be able to hold her for 12 weeks post surgery.
Thank you for the part you’ve played in our lives. And we’d ask that you share this on social media, by word of mouth, or any way you can.
Please contact us if you have any questions or encouragement for Joey & Ahria.
To donate by eTransfer please email [email redacted]
On behalf of the Family Team,
Joey & Ahria & Gryffon & baby
Tim & Mavis Reimer
CarlaAnne Coroy
Early in Joey’s construction career he fell off a roof - 15 ft down and landed on his lower back. He saw a chiropractor and was back to work the next day. Then while Ahria was pregnant with their first child, Joey’s back was injured again on the job site. He was off work for several months to allow his back to heal. He was careful to do all the therapeutic exercises and treatments recommended. And when medical professionals gave the go-ahead to go back to work he did. These weeks off work were covered by WCB. He worked for a full year after that.
Until October of 2019.
His back pain had progressed to where he was losing feeling in his leg and foot. It was recommended he take time off work. This time WCB refused to cover it since there was no specific injury date and he’d previously been given clearance to go back to work.
So he went on EI sick leave. In November he was sent for X-rays. And then in December for an MRI. The follow up appointment for the MRI was in January. With the information given in the written report he was told he’d never return to his career in construction and would need to retrain. He was referred to back surgery in Brandon for a likely fusion - if they’d do the surgery at all. Since more than one disc was implicated the doctors indicated Brandon doctors might not perform the surgery.
However, after purchasing his MRI and X-rays results from the hospitals, his results have been examined by professionals who do back surgery regularly in Germany.
We have seen the results ourselves and have had them explained to us.
Professionals are shocked Joey is not paralyzed already. And he has only two options: paralysis or surgery.
But at 27 years old with baby #2 just 8-10 weeks from birth Joey, Ahria and their parents feel the only real option is surgery.
Because of the severe herniation of his discs, and the fact that the pressure in the spinal column is building, it’s likely he’ll be given a surgery date as early as March 10. Meaning leaving Manitoba in less than two weeks.
The challenge we are facing now is the cost of the surgery.
The trip and surgery costs will run about $65,000 (as our first reasonable estimation with firm numbers to come). In addition, they would need a minimum of 12-16 weeks living expenses as EI will not cover him any longer if he is not in retraining for a new career. Surgery and recovery time is not covered as he has already used up his allowed sick leave.
We are looking to raise approximately $78,000.
The surgery fees have to be paid at least one to two weeks in advance.
We don’t want to delay the surgery. Every day without the surgery is a day for possible paralysis. And once the paralysis hits, surgery cannot undo the damage. We don’t want that for this young family.
Ahria is not able to travel to Germany as she’s currently in the third trimester of pregnancy. Joey’s mom Mavis would be traveling with him as his support person.
We are asking for your help financially. We cannot do this alone. We trust fully in God’s plan and believe He has directed us to this path. We also know that He uses people and businesses to funnel His resources to the places He wants it to go.
So we are asking you - would you join us? As you can see the amount seems staggering to us. But every dollar counts.
If you can donate tens of thousands or ten dollars - we are grateful.
Depending on the results and the rate at which funds come in, we may plan additional fundraising events. We hope not to have to do that as we’d like to keep as early a surgery date as possible.
And of course prayer. We recognize God as both healer and provider. Here are some specifics to pray for:
• Quick raising of funds
• That no paralysis would set in before surgery
• For reduced stress during this waiting time on Ahria and their unborn baby
• For preparation for their 18 month old, Gryffon, as Joey will not be able to hold her for 12 weeks post surgery.
Thank you for the part you’ve played in our lives. And we’d ask that you share this on social media, by word of mouth, or any way you can.
Please contact us if you have any questions or encouragement for Joey & Ahria.
To donate by eTransfer please email [email redacted]
On behalf of the Family Team,
Joey & Ahria & Gryffon & baby
Tim & Mavis Reimer
CarlaAnne Coroy