This past year has been extremely difficult for our family, especially my mother, Martha, due to her unexpected health issues. Multiple surgeries and mounting medical care costs have left us all in a position of distress.

In 2021, Martha was diagnosed with “Craniovertebral Instability,” a condition in which there is excessive movement between the skull and top two vertebrae. In December, she went in for a 7-hour-long surgery where they added a bone graft and hardware that was meant to be held in place with screws and rods. Things took a crazy turn during a follow up appointment in May 2022. What we assumed was the start of a scab forming, was actually a full screw sticking out of her head. She had no choice but to undergo an emergency surgery.

They completed another 7-hour-long surgery to change the hardware and close up the wound using tissue and muscle from her neck. She was taken to the ICU for blood loss, and we learned she contracted a bacteria called Klebsiella. She had to do a 6-week long treatment through an IV, ;a process which was slowed because she lost her job and health insurance during the first week of June.

Throughout the entire summer, she was simply not healing, and the medical bills started getting out of hand because of her job loss and failure to qualify for federal benefits. Just recently on November 7th, the surgeons came together again for a third operation. Closing up the wound site using muscle or tissue from her neck was not an option again, so it was taken from her trapezius muscle instead. She now has a foot-long scar down her back, but was finally able to say goodbye to the cervical collar she was forced to wear for 10 long months. We hope and pray this is the final round.

We couldn’t feel more grateful for the many thoughts and prayers we have received this entire year from our close family and friends. It’s been really hard because Martha does not have any family present in this country. Due to a stroke of good fortune, I have been lucky enough to be given some time off work to continue being her caregiver on a daily basis. My mom losing her job and undergoing 3 surgeries in less than a year has taken a major toll on her physically, mentally, and most of all financially. Unfortunately, she doesn’t qualify for disability assistance because she is only 50 years old.

Martha still has so much life ahead of her, and our ultimate goal is to see her live a healthy lifestyle again including working and driving like she loved to do. At the moment, our main concern is that her new health insurance company is stating they will not be covering the latest surgical procedure. We are not confident they will change their mind. Your donations will help Martha predominantly with health and medical expenses, as well as transportation expenses and eventually physical therapy as she continues this journey of healing. It has been a long road to recovery, but we know we will get there with everyone’s love and prayers.