COMPLEX SURGICAL PROCEDURE
Medical Update: Philip’s upcoming surgery and recovery.
Philip is scheduled to undergo major surgery to correct a serious medical error
from a previous attempt to open his jugular vein using a titanium stent.
This complex procedure will involve three surgeons and their specialized teams,
each from a different medical discipline.
The surgery will take place at Queens Medical Centre – a Johns Hopkins Hospital
in Honolulu, Hawaii, the only facility equipped to perform this operation.
Recovery in Hawaii is expected to extend to mid-November.
Help Philip Recover from 17 Years of Debilitating Illness & Medical Trauma
For the past 17 years, Philip has endured unimaginable suffering, battling multiple
rare and complex medical conditions: Chiari Malformation, Ehlers-Danlos
Syndrome, and Eagle Syndrome each of which on their own can be debilitating.
Together, they created a perfect storm of chronic illnesses, severe intracranial
pressure, and constant, life-altering pain.
In a critical attempt to improve blood flow by opening a compressed jugular vein,
a titanium stent was surgically inserted. Tragically, the stent was mispositioned
due to an elongated styloid bone kinking the stent and compressing a bundle of
cranial nerves.
The result? A decade of excruciating, unrelenting pain. The titanium wires of the
stent eventually fractured, continuously crushing some of the most sensitive
nerves in the body. Pain specialists have described this type of nerve
compression, along with the pressure in the brain, as among the most severe
pain a human can endure.
A Life in Isolation, Bedridden for Over 15 Years
Philip has been completely bedridden for 15 years. The intense nerve pain,
combined with dangerously high pressure in the brain, made sleep nearly
impossible. Every day became a battle for survival.
Over the years, he underwent 12 major surgeries involving the brainstem, upper
cervical spine, skull base, and jugular veins. Because these conditions are so
misunderstood, Ontario’s healthcare system could not provide the level of care
required to keep Philip alive.
Their only option was to seek help from highly specialized surgeons and
physicians across the United States. Even with the best minds involved, many
treatments involved trial and error, and sadly, some of those errors have led to
permanent damage.
This required:
Out-of-country medical specialists
Extended hotel stays near hospitals and clinics
Specialized treatments for Lyme disease and immune collapse which
required Hundreds of IV infusions and specialty clinic in Philadelphia.
A range of costly medications, antibiotics, supplements, labs, and many
extended trips.
The Financial and Emotional Toll
To fund life-saving treatments, the family business founded by Philip in his late
20’s has been covering much of the medical expenses. However, due the illness,
he could no longer be part of the business leaving Philip and Esther for the past
17 years with only a small allowance to live on. Over the years, Philip and Esther
have also had to personally cover various additional expenses, including some of
the travel costs.
Philip’s wife, Esther, has been his full-time caregiver for over 14 years. During this
time, she has sacrificed nearly every aspect of her life, church involvement, social
connections, and even her own health to provide unwavering care and support
for him.
Now, Esther herself needs medical attention. She requires an ongoing wide range
of medical therapy, medications, and comprehensive support to recover from the
physical and emotional toll of years spent caregiving and isolation.
In addition to this, Esther is currently battling systemic infections and needs
rehabilitation for a concussion and an urgent abdominal surgery. She also
requires continued out-of-pocket therapy, which places a significant financial
burden on them both.
We Are Asking for Your Help
We’re now at a critical turning point. With hope on the horizon, we are trying
to rebuild our lives from the ground up but we can’t do it without help.
Your contributions will go directly toward:
1. Travel to ongoing medical appointments for both
2. Hotel stays, meals, and other travel expenses
3. Lifetime hormone replacement - expensive injections
4. Specialized rehabilitation and therapy for both (not covered by insurance)
5. Prescription medications
6. Medical debt repayment
7. Lost wages and basic household needs
8. Home modifications (e.g. specialty bathtub)
9. The farmhouse they are living in includes a large lawn, yard & garden.
However, they do not have a lawnmower, tiller or any yard tools. They
will need assistance to purchase these items for Esther to grow her own
garden and maintain the property. She loves to do this.
10. Career education / investment for Philip to re-enter the workforce in the
future.
If you can’t donate, please consider sharing this page to help spread awareness
about these rare conditions and the devastating toll they can take on patients and
families.
Thank You
Your support whether through a donation, a share, spreading our names as a
prayer request means the world to us. Even a kind word or warm response gives
us hope that we can finally move out of survival mode and into a season of
healing and rebuilding.
With gratitude,
Philip & Esther Gerber
Contact:
Winfred and Jewel Nolt
Lititz, PA 17543
Contact:
Scott and Amanda Roes
Millbank, ON
Organizer
Jewel Nolt
Organizer
Lititz, PA