Julie’s Brain Surgery Expenses

When I went back to college as an adult and a single mom, the walk from the parking lot to class was the worst thing in the world. It was cold, rainy, and miserable some days. One particular day I thought about how far I had come and said to myself, “Every step I take towards the door is a step closer to having a career that I can support my kids. Every step I take, it’s for them.” I started walking with purpose and I didn’t mind the walks so much after that. 

As many of you know, I graduated college with honors and was nationally recognized as a Certified Surgical Technologist. I worked for many years doing what I loved the most, which was helping people. I made a family with the teams that I worked with and we did our very best to make sure that our patients always came first. It’s my God given talent to care for people. It’s my passion and it makes me happy.

A few years ago I had three migraines in a week that left me temporarily blinded. My manager forced me to go to the Emergency Department and I was diagnosed with Chiari Malformation Type 1 shortly thereafter. 

I have a brain disorder in which the bottom of my brain is slipping into the spinal canal. I have mild crowding of the brain stem which controls my blood pressure, breathing, and heart rate. I suffer many symptoms daily such as sensitivity to light and sounds, ringing in my ears, word recall, the ability to say what I am thinking, (crazy, right?!) and the feeling of pressure in the base of my skull can be overwhelming at times. I can’t laugh, sing, or cry without getting a debilitating migraine. To say my quality of life has changed drastically is an understatement.

On March 28th I am scheduled to have a Cranioplasty and Duraplasty to make room for my falling brain and to relieve some of the pressure on my brain stem. They will remove part of my skull and spine; then dissect my brain to remove the scarring from being compressed. A Neurosurgery specialist, Dr. Friedlander at UPMSC will be performing the surgery. The surgery is out-of-state (Pennsylvania), and I will need two months of Physical Therapy when I get home and rehabilitative care. 

As an accomplished, hard-working, and proud mother, asking for help is not something that I am normally comfortable with, but I have no other alternatives. This unexpected expense is too much for my one income to handle. Just the deductible for the surgery is $7,500. I need help to fund my surgery and plan for two months of expenses, along with the trip to have my procedure. 

Eight weeks after surgery my son Lane will be graduating high school, and I plan to work hard in recovery so I can be there to support him. I reckon God just wants me to fight another battle. This surgery is just “a few more steps” to get back to where I was. I see this as a chance to show my kids that with determination and strength, anyone has the possibility to overcome anything. No excuses. My goal is the same as it always was: to support and to be there for my kids and to live a life that I can be proud of.

Will you please help me? Any little bit helps, and will truly impact our lives in a direct and powerful way. I have set this up also in my mother’s name in case I should be incapacitated at any point, she will be able to withdraw from this to help pay my bills and to support my children. Thank you for your prayers, support, and encouragement. 

Love always,

Julie Woodson