8 HIP SURGERIES IN 8 YEARS: HELP END MY NIGHTMARE

8 years ago I began a painful journey leading me away from the life I loved to what has become a living hell. My name is Mark Hendry and for most of my life I’ve been a generous teacher, performer and artist. Sharing all I have to give with others is my joy. It’s how I connect; what gives my life meaning. Now, I really need your help. Asking like this is way out of my comfort zone, but without your support, I don’t know how I’ll survive.
I wish I could say it’s a short story, but it’s not. It’s long and involved, and I should know, because I’ve lived every painful minute of it. After what feels like a lifetime of suffering, I can barely remember that before all this, I was a young, very active, super healthy guy; hiking, dancing, gardening and working out at the gym daily. Today, at this point, I’m bedridden, unable to walk. I used to consider myself a positive person, but 8 surgeries in 8 years has taken its toll on my usual upbeat outlook, and it has definitely broken me in more ways than I could ever imagine.

I was never one to go to the doctors, but in 2011, due to hip pain, I visited with a doctor whom I believed specialized in working with young active patients. The doctor convinced me that what I needed were hip replacements in both my right and left hips.  He told me I'd be up and around in no time, and even said I could dance again if I wanted to; no restrictions.

After the surgeries, I didn't get better. I was getting worse and no one could tell me why. In the years that followed, I had further doctor recommended surgeries, but no matter what I did or who I consulted I got no better and  I got no answers. I had gone from super healthy to incredibly sickly, getting worse and worse, with more nightmarish stories than I can share here.
Eventually, blood tests were completed which revealed that I was suffering from high levels of  toxic metal poisoning (chromium and cobalt ). After all I'd been through, it had clearly been my metal-on-metal hip replacements that were destroying my health and slowly killing me. Further research revealed that unbeknownst to me, the specific components used in my hips had been recalled back in 2012. It makes me sick to think that 8 years of physical and emotional pain, as well as numerous surgeries and treatments, all could have been avoided had I know about the defective products that were put into my body. My only option was to have the metal hip components removed through further surgeries.
My most recent hip surgery (and hopefully last) was this past January. There was major internal damage and what was left of my acetabulum (left pelvis) had to be cut off and a bone graft done so that there would be something solid to attach my leg to. Post surgery involves months of  being off my feet to heal, with physical therapy not even an option for me at this point.

I'm just praying to get to a better place. A place that will be the end of all my agony and misery. All I can do is to try to find hope where it exists: so you are my hope, and I'm hoping you can help me. 

In the midst of all this pain, suffering & trying to heal, we are facing the unavoidable stress of being out of money and unable to carry on. Being self-employed and unable to work, I’ve been unable to qualify for disability this whole time. We have little income and it’s not enough to cover all the debt we've accrued with medical tests, procedures and surgeries.

Out of desperation we've spent our entire retirement, investments, savings, and went into deep credit card debt on surgeries and chasing answers to my continual health dilemmas. The true blessing for me though all this is that my wife has never quit or left me or abandoned me. I am so very grateful to have a partner who has stuck by my side through this whole wretched ordeal.
If you would consider donating to our Go Fund Me account, every dollar raised will go directly towards our medical and living expenses. Even if it's just spreading the word about our page on your social networks, every little bit really helps, and is appreciated more than you could know. Thank You