Hey I'm Judy!

I have a bunch of chronic conditions including hEDS (hypermobile Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, CRPS (Complex Regional Pain Syndrome), POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndome), MCAS (Mast Cell Activation Syndrome), and more.

Those who know me know that the last 18 months have been really tough for me. I had right hip surgery, a spinal cord stimulator, muliple pain procedures, and 4 surgeries on my knees with a myriad of complications. I broke my tibia and was in hospital for two weeks, and then lived with an external fixator for 5 months. The break wasn't healing and I then needed further surgery to have a tibial nail put from my knee to my ankle.

As I was recovering from this surgery and finally improving I unfortunately dislocated my left hip while walking. I have torn the labrum and damaged multiple other structures in my hip. This has resulted in intense pain, and multiple dislocations every day due to increased instability since this injury. I have had to rely on mobility aids such as my wheelchair and crutches to get around. The only way to fix this issue is to undergo another surgery.

I will be having a hip arthroscopy with labral repair, capsular plication, and whatever else they find while they are in there as the damage is likely more extensive than we can see on MRI. After this I will likely also need to have my right hip re-done at some point also.

I have private health insurance, and the gap fee for this surgery is still likely to be between $6000-$7000 due to my complicated medical history and extensive damage to the hip.

This surgery will help to reduce my pain to a manageable level and will reduce the dislocations I experience. This means I will be able to walk more independently again and do the things I love like teaching, studying, and walking my dog Ellie.

It is so difficult for me to reach out for help like this. I have always been the strong one who could figure everything out on her own. But I know that it is time that I ask for help so that I can try to get some quality of life back again. With all the surgeries I have had recently, I have completely depleted my savings and superannuation and it would take me years to save the money needed for this surgery alone (and that's if I don't have any other injuries-which is unlikely). Unfortunately, this surgery is also not able to be done on a public list, so I have no choice but to go private.

Any help that you can provide would be appreciated more than you could ever know, and I promise to pay all of this kindness forward.

Much love

xx

Judy