Laurie's Hip Hip Hooray Fundraiser

WHO: Hi there! My name is Laurie Christensen. I am a single 61 year old woman who has been on disability with MS for the past ten years. I live in CT, rent a small room in a friend's house and live with my two hairy beloved dogs Sybil & Coop. I have a interesting employment history, having worked in advertising and public relations, trained and managed horses and horse show facilities, worked as an industrial mechanic for over 20 years, a dog-walker for four years and now, due to my physical limitations, I work part-time as a cashier in a local supermarket. I have never *not* worked, not since the age of 12.

As part of my disability aid, I receive *limited* Medicare benefits.

WHAT THIS FUNDRAISER IS FOR: I am in dire need of a right hip replacement. The joint has been fully bone on bone since December of last year. While I've continued to work, I recently received a bit of a promotion which involves a lot more walking around. The pain has become too great and my continued ability to work is in serious jeopardy. Walking is agony; I am crippled by pain at the end of my shift and in tears by bedtime. I had anticipated being back to work two weeks after the hip replacement, but because I'm "medically complex" due to MS infusion treatments (also not covered by Medicare) my surgeon claims I will be out of work for at least a month; possibly six weeks.

WHY: I am having to ask for help because I am under 65 years of age, which means that the Medicare I receive for my MS/disablity is very limited. It does not cover hospitalization or surgery.

The hospital will be charging me $35,000 to $40,000 for the hip replacement. Medicare will only cover $1,500 of that amount. If I was already 65? Medicare would cover this. But I ain't, so I'm flat out of luck.

Medicare, Social Security Disability, my own State Social Services have all told me that they have no programs to help me cover the tens of thousands that Medicare won't pay.

HOW CAN YOU HELP: My goal with this fundraiser is twofold: to help me pay for the short term pre-op expenses that are piling up hand over fist. And my long term goal is to hopefully raise enough money to help offset the massive surgery bill, so very high that I have no chance of paying it all off on my limited income.

Short terms pre-op expenses are as follows: I need a pre-op dental exam before they'll approve me for surgery. The exam and required X-rays will cost me $340. I won't be able to climb the stairs to my room for a couple few weeks, so am creating a recuperation ward in my landlord's outside woodshop, which is all one level. It's going to work out well; it has electricity, a wood stove and a/c unit to keep me comfortable. But what it lacks is a bathroom of any kind, lol! So I need to rent an outhouse for the shop for no more than a month. That's $320. I'll also need to get a wifi signal out to the shop, which will require about $200 in additional equipment and wiring. I'll need to take a couple of long uber rides to my initial post-op appointments until I'm mended enough to drive myself; it's about $30 each way. And while I'll hopefully receive a bit of medical leave pay, it won't be much as I'm only part-time. So I could really use some help paying for groceries via instacart during that month, especially as the hip pain has resulted in significant and unwanted weight loss. And of course medical bills related to the hip keep adding up: MRIs, lab test fees, appointments with the orthopedic surgeon too. All together, I'm ball parking my pre-op expenses at around $2,000.

The long term goal to offset the surgery would ideally be for the entire hospital/surgery cost of $35 - $40k.

One other concrete thing you all will most assuredly be helping with is to give my Very Good Dogs a return to their normal lives. Before the hip crashed out on me the dogs and I walked 3 - 5 miles a day, five days a week. Sybil & Coop were healthy, trim, fit and most of all very happy and content with their lives. But all that came to a halt in December when the pain became too great for me to walk them at all. Getting them back to their happy active lifestyle would make my heart and soul so very, VERY happy.

WHERE: The hip replacement will take place at Middlesex Hospital in Middletown, CT.

WHEN: The hip replacement is scheduled for September 13th - my birthday! Best present ever, and I sincerely mean that.

THE FINAL WHY: Why on earth should you feel moved to donate some of your hard-earned bucks to me and my new "hip socket rocket"? I honestly can't give you a good answer to that. I'm a good person but not a remarkable one. And while I used to love donating to any worthy causes among my friends, the hard fact is that I've not been able to afford to give back these past few years. I hate that feeling, not being able to help; it's far more uplifting to give than to receive!

But there's a saying: "In accepting the gift, you honor the giver". Perhaps you feel that way too. Maybe, if you have an extra dollar to spare, you'd consider donating it to the Hip Hip Hooray fund, knowing you'd be helping someone who has hit a wall where they're simply unable to help themselves any further. NO amount is too small; every donation will have a definite and major impact! And your gifts will indeed be honored with each and every step the new hip takes; that I can promise and guarantee most assuredly!

Thank you so much for taking the time to read through my predicament. You're all marvelous. Have a wonderful day!