Christy’s Stem Cell Therapy Fund
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My name is Christy Shaver and I started this fundraising campaign to raise money to cover my stem cell therapy.
Before 2008 I was an elite athlete with Olympic aspirations. Then in 2008 I underwent surgery on my right foot due to a chronic injury that I had been dealing with for a couple years. The initial surgery was unsuccessful and I would face an additional surgery the following spring. In the fall of 2009 I underwent surgery on my right shoulder to repair a tear in my labrum and rotator cuff. Two weeks later I would be rushed to an emergency surgery for fear of infection. And I immediately developed further painful complications with my shoulder. I not only was forced to give up my dreams, I also found myself unable to work and had to leave my coaching career of 14 years.
Christmas 2009 I flew to Colorado to undergo an additional surgery on my right shoulder to repair an avulsian fracture. Structurally, the surgery was successful but the severe chronic pain remained. I could not bear anything touching my shoulder region.
A few few months later an MRI revealed a labrum tear in my left shoulder and I headed back to Colorado to undergo surgery. As with my right, the decision was made to move my bicep tendon down attaching it to the humerus bone with a screw. Surgery appeared to be successful. But I awoke one morning a few weeks later with increased discomfort in my left arm and noticed a bulge near my lower bicep. My bicep tendon had detached from the screw and retracted down near my elbow. I would return to Colorado to repair my bicep tendon. Little did we know that a tiny nerve was impacted.
A few weeks after surgery, with my left arm still in a sling and sitting in the passenger seat, I was rear ended at a stoplight by a large plumbing truck. I would suffer a double crush injury to both arms. Meaning my nerves were impacted at both ends.
Over the next several years I would undergo several additional surgeries and medical procedures. Some more successful than others. In 2015 I would undergo surgery to transpose my ulnar nerve at the left elbow. By 2016 it became apparent the ulnar nerve was in need of being retransposed. I underwent the procedure July 2016.
A few few days following the procedure I noticed severe painful symptoms with my left hand. It was hoped that with time the symptoms would subside and eventually resolve completely.
It it has been almost 16/months since my last surgery and the painful and chronic symptoms remain. And to complicate things further I am losing strength and mobility in my hand. With a prognosis that I could permanently lose the use of my left hand and have to deal with severe chronic pain the rest of my life if we do nothing.
Stem cell therapy is my best option to help the nerves in my left hand regenerate. But it is experimental and not covered by my insurance. And that is why I am reaching out asking for financial support.
Thank you.
Before 2008 I was an elite athlete with Olympic aspirations. Then in 2008 I underwent surgery on my right foot due to a chronic injury that I had been dealing with for a couple years. The initial surgery was unsuccessful and I would face an additional surgery the following spring. In the fall of 2009 I underwent surgery on my right shoulder to repair a tear in my labrum and rotator cuff. Two weeks later I would be rushed to an emergency surgery for fear of infection. And I immediately developed further painful complications with my shoulder. I not only was forced to give up my dreams, I also found myself unable to work and had to leave my coaching career of 14 years.
Christmas 2009 I flew to Colorado to undergo an additional surgery on my right shoulder to repair an avulsian fracture. Structurally, the surgery was successful but the severe chronic pain remained. I could not bear anything touching my shoulder region.
A few few months later an MRI revealed a labrum tear in my left shoulder and I headed back to Colorado to undergo surgery. As with my right, the decision was made to move my bicep tendon down attaching it to the humerus bone with a screw. Surgery appeared to be successful. But I awoke one morning a few weeks later with increased discomfort in my left arm and noticed a bulge near my lower bicep. My bicep tendon had detached from the screw and retracted down near my elbow. I would return to Colorado to repair my bicep tendon. Little did we know that a tiny nerve was impacted.
A few weeks after surgery, with my left arm still in a sling and sitting in the passenger seat, I was rear ended at a stoplight by a large plumbing truck. I would suffer a double crush injury to both arms. Meaning my nerves were impacted at both ends.
Over the next several years I would undergo several additional surgeries and medical procedures. Some more successful than others. In 2015 I would undergo surgery to transpose my ulnar nerve at the left elbow. By 2016 it became apparent the ulnar nerve was in need of being retransposed. I underwent the procedure July 2016.
A few few days following the procedure I noticed severe painful symptoms with my left hand. It was hoped that with time the symptoms would subside and eventually resolve completely.
It it has been almost 16/months since my last surgery and the painful and chronic symptoms remain. And to complicate things further I am losing strength and mobility in my hand. With a prognosis that I could permanently lose the use of my left hand and have to deal with severe chronic pain the rest of my life if we do nothing.
Stem cell therapy is my best option to help the nerves in my left hand regenerate. But it is experimental and not covered by my insurance. And that is why I am reaching out asking for financial support.
Thank you.
Organizer
Christy Shaver
Organizer
Lahaina, HI
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