Karen Lewis Back Surgery in Jersey

Karen Lewis is a beautiful and devoted wife, a caring mother of four children, a loving daughter and sister and she is my best friend of 11 years.  One of the reasons Karen is my best friend is her ability to make you feel at ease, her laugh that is contagious and her giving nature that is apparent in everything she does.

For the last twelve years Karen has suffered from immense back pain stemming from several problems with her lower spine.  She has encountered several treatments for pain management including physio therapy, massage therapy, relentless narcotic treatments, facet injections and two rhizotomies which have done little to relieve her day to day pain.  Over time her back pain has increased and is now debilitating, preventing her from working at her job and being able to care for her children.

Karen has elected to have endoscopic discectomy surgery to permanentaly fix her back problem, which can be performed in the United States.  The cost for this surgery is over $30,000.00 USD but thankfully with the help of the patient advocate at the Atlantic Spine Centre, her case will be treated for $20,000.00 USD. Even with the generous donation of the Atlantic Spine Centre, the cost of this surgery is a hardship for Karen and her husband Paul who have four children actively involved in hockey.  Emma, aged 16, is the oldest and she has taken on a job and has pledged to raise $1, 000.00 on her own accord.  Abby, who is 12 and Evan who is 10, both play competitive hockey and the youngest Andie, my god-child, is as busy as any eight year old would be. Karen left her job at the Queensway Carleton Hospital five years ago to be at home with her kids and opened a daycare which has recently been closed due to her condition. Karen's worsening condition has forced Paul into working double shifts and picking up extra shifts with Air Canada to try to relieve some of the financial burden and stress.

It is my goal to raise $20,000.00 USD for Karen. I see the pain she is in and how this has stopped her whole family from living a normal life.  Her mother, father, sister and brothers have all rallied around to help out, but it is taking its toll.  Karen is a vibrant and independent woman who is suffering in pain during these reoccurances.  This surgery will be life-changing for Karen because it will prevent her back problem from constantly re-occuring which will allow her to have a more stable and normal life.  I need to help her and with your help, I know we can.

Please help me, help Karen.  Give what you can and send to those you know.  On behalf of her family and friends, we thank you, from the bottom of our hearts.