Make Kate Great

Lets Make Kate Great again :-)

The last six months have been horrendous for my sister and as many of you know she is no stranger to medical problems. However this time her condition is so severe that without the appropriate operation she will probably end up in a wheelchair and require care for the rest of her life.

So we really really need your help to raise the funds necessary to send her to Switzerland for surgery which will be life changing.

So what happened:
It all started with a broken foot in 2018. Once healed, 12 weeks later, her foot gave way whilst walking down stairs and she landed on her back and so began the ordeal....

She was incorrectly diagnosed with Sacro iliac dysfunction and was subsequently given a bilateral Sacro iliac joint fusion.  It was later discovered that not only was the operation in itself unnecessary, but it was also done incorrectly and one of the screws was left pressing on several nerves.

Upon returning home Kate's pain has spiralled out of control.  She sought a second, third and fourth opinion all of which were united in their diagnosis of three level severe disc degeneration needing surgery.  Plus, a revision of the previous surgery was also needed.

We have been told by specialists here in Australia that the optimum treatment for her back would be a three level disc replacement, which would restore almost full function returning her back to a normal life.  However, the health care system in Australia will not cover it even with private health care. The best they can offer is a single disc replacement and a two level fusion.  Leaving her vulnerable for many more surgeries in the future.
Furthermore fusing her back in addition to the SIJ fusion which has already been done would leave her with little to no movement in the lower spine. 
The prospect of my sister being in her early 40’s trying to live a normal family life with be impossible and  leave her extremely vulnerable to more operations as the other levels of her spine deteriorate due to the fusions.

After much research she has found a spinal specialist in Zurich who works at The Pyramid hospital he can do the three level disc replacement and undo the damage from the previous operation which was a disaster therefore quite simply give her back her life.

She would need to fly over to Switzerland  for three weeks and then go onto Düsseldorf to the rehab centre for a further 2 weeks before flying   back home to Australia.  

The situation with her health is acute and the Dr wants her to have the operation on the 11th October, requiring her to leave by the 5th October. The cost of the operation and everything that goes with it is $140,000.... So this is why Kate needs our help- it is an unthinkable amount of money for her and her family.

We think perhaps a little bit of history is needed here just so you can understand the extreme urgency for our request for help 

Prior to this six months of extreme pain Kate and her partner Craig had set up an exciting new business as food truck operators but unfortunately it went under as it was impossible for Kate to work and needed full time care from her partner, so this meant no money coming into the household and although Craig applied for a carer's benefit it was refused as Kate is not an Australian citizen. 

Along side the Food truck business Kate was also a funeral celebrant which is her passion and she has tried very hard to persist with this. But the pain and strong medication plus trying to run a service on crutches has made it near on impossible. So Craig has picked up the pieces and trained as a Celebrant to share the workload, seeing Kate in so much pain after a funeral was too unbearable for words .

With no assistance from the government for any carer’s allowance and the constant drain on their bank balance with medical bills and medication, the pressures of day to day living has become very difficult.  

The impact of her injuries and need for care have impacted on her family in a massive way.  Charlotte(13) is suffering with extreme anxiety, and now young Rosie (8)  seems to be suffering with constant immune deficiencies. Kate's partner Craig has had to carry the burden   from looking after two children, cooking, cleaning, caring for Kate full time and trying to earn enough to keep them all, as well as dealing with his own health issues as a chronic asthmatic.

Fortunately my parents are there to support and help as well, but as many of you know our mother was extremely ill for many months and not so long ago Dad was rushed into hospital too so they are both still recovering from their illnesses. So its been one very horrendous year 

Seeing my sisters quality of life deteriorate so much over the last 15 months has upset everyone who knows and loves her.

To see a young woman who has so much to give become depressed as well as mentally and physically exhausted breaks my heart. 

So therefore from the bottom of our hearts Hannah and I ask 

Please help us "Make Kate Great" again.