You may see GoFundMe pages online, but nobody ever fathoms that they will need to create one. Unfortunately, today is that day for my family. My mom is the strongest, funniest, and boldest person I have ever known. However, in the past couple years, her quality of life has diminished. The woman that would always crack a joke is quieter. The woman that absolutely loves her grand-puppies and would stop by to walk them on her way home from work every day, is no longer able to. The woman who would walk a mile every morning before work and take a picture of the sunrise, can barely walk 60 feet without excruciating pain. The woman who is the queen of not letting anyone see her pain, has begun to fail. She is struggling. My mom has been so brave, but right now, she is really scared.

Additionally, my mom has been an educator in the Saddleback Unified School District for over 20 years. Many of you may know her as Mrs. Madigan (the best teacher ever). She has devoted her life to working with children with special needs as well as any child that may just need a little extra help. She has dedicated so much time to ensure that her students blossom and grow in her class. She is absolutely heartbroken that, without this surgery, it will only be a matter of time until she will have to leave her students and the job she loves so much.

Now, you may wonder why we may need assistance financially. My mom got into a severe car accident over 20 years ago. She has tried all types of different medications and therapies over the years to help with the pain, but she recently reached her breaking point. Her condition began to rapidly worsen. We saw a neurosurgeon and were baffled to hear that she needed an emergency, and a quite major, spinal operation. Usually, they schedule these surgeries 9-12 months out, so the patient has enough time to ask their questions, save money, obtain supplies, and have time to prepare mentally for such an incredibly invasive surgery. Sadly, we were not given this much time. The doctor urgently insisted on scheduling the surgery as soon as possible, which meant a little over 2 weeks from now, 10/22/2024.

The unexpected costs associated with the surgery, including hospital bills, post-operative care, in-home care, physical therapy, and other recovery expenses, are overwhelming. We are reaching out to you for help in covering these expenses.

Every contribution, no matter how small, will make a significant difference in my mom's recovery journey. Your support means the world to us during this challenging time. Thank you so much for considering helping our family!

With gratitude,

Hannah Lorenz