Medical and Daily living costs

Hello dear ones ~

As many of you know, our dear friend, Meggan Baumgartner, underwent spinal surgery in Seattle last September. The surgery involved changes in bones, tendons and nerves to alleviate debilitating pain and numbness. The surgery was physically and emotionally traumatic. Her recovery from the surgery is extensive and will take up to a year. Meggan has only recently been able to return to part-time work as she slowly regains mobility and strength.

And now Meggan is facing another unexpected, major medical hurdle! She did not experience a known trauma but has somehow torn the cartilage completely off her talus bone (in the ankle/foot). Due to her high pain tolerance, she was able to continue to walk on the foot (upon the bone-on-bone joint) until recently when walking became impossible without a supportive medical boot. In addition, she has developed plantar fasciitis and tendonitis in the foot / ankle which is also EXTREMELY painful. Her medical team has ordered restricted movement and surgery for repairs.

Meggan will need to undergo another extensive surgery to repair this ankle injury sometime in March. The surgery will remove the torn cartilage and holes will be drilled in her bones to draw out marrow and stem cells to help the cartilage regrow. After surgery she has to be completely non weight-bearing for 2 to 3 months. The recovery from this surgery is complicated because she is not even halfway through her neck surgery recovery!

Meggan is a self-employed fabulous acupuncturist and Chinese medicine practitioner whose work serves and supports hundreds of people in our community. This includes offering her services numerous times pro-bono in the past. Being self-employed means she has no paid leave. She was unable to work for several months after her neck surgery and has only been able to work part-time for two months and now faces another 2-3 months without being able to work. Her medical plan carries a very high deductible so most of the medical expenses she is experiencing will be self paid.

Meggan is one of the kindest, most generous people we know. She is a healer and has helped so many of us! This is an emotionally, mentally and financially challenging time for our friend and it is our time to give back to her. We are hoping to lessen her financial burden. We are now asking for you to help with any financial support that you are able to provide. Any amount - large or small - that you are able to give to help support her medical and living expenses through this period of unemployment will be greatly appreciated.

We thank you in advance from the bottom of our hearts! May you live in good health, love and joy.

Kim and Jamie