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- Hi, my name is Shannon Hendricks. I am the wife of Michael Hendricks. First let me say thank you for taking the time to read our story.
- My husband, Michael Hendricks is one of the most hardworking and selfless men I've ever met!
- Those of you who have had the pleasure of knowing him, know he would do anything for anyone in their time of need, even if that meant he would go without.
- Mike is the love of my life and my favorite part of every day.
- This past year has left him in a place that is so tragic and hard to watch. For a man who is always laughing and full of charisma, his days are now spent in excruciating pain, agony, and stress beyond belief.
- He was given the diagnosis of severe neuropathy. Then within a couple months, we were blind sighted when this debilitating diagnosis of degenerative bone and disc disease over more than half of his vertebrae from the top to the bottom of his spine. This has been detrimental to our lives! To say this has brought on a hardship would be an understatement.
- My husband has not been able to work for almost six months now. He is a Machinist and has been for about the last thirty-seven years. He loves what he does but it has taken its toll on his body.
- I watch him everyday put that smile on his face and tell me not to worry. " Everything will be alright" he says. Such an incredible man, so humble and selfless. He often suffers in silence as to not worry others or put a burden on them.
- Mike has had three surgeries in the last six to eight months. Everytime we think he is on the mend and can return back to work, we have gotten hit with more bad news.
- It literally kills me watching him so determined to get back to work, disappointed as he sits here in almost unbearable pain. Meanwhile he has to jump through hoops to get these procedures done, just to temporarily bring him some relief.
- His first surgery, which was the beginning of our financial down fall, was his knee. He had a torn meniscus. While working inside his knee they discovered the rest of what should have been cartilage is gone. Direct bone on bone so he'll be needing a knee replacement in a couple years.
- After getting a referral from our primary care physician, we then had to wait for his acceptance letter, schedule an appointment with the specialist then comes a plan for yet another surgery, EKG, chest x-ray, blood work, co-vid test etc... then finally the surgery, then the recovery time.
- As weeks turn into more months without work, which means NO paycheck.
- Currently this has been his routine, pain, doctor, specialist, another surgery.
- Mike finally got ,his first spinal fusion about two months ago.
- The first of four yet to come.
- Fast forward to 12/6/21 Monday. Mike had to undergo yet another surgery. Carpal Tunnel surgery on his dominate hand wrist and elbow.
- Still out of work, another ninety days for recovery. Meanwhile we wait for another approval for the second spinal fusion.
- Our health insurance is dropping all coverage as of Jan.1st 2022. We are drowning in bills with zero income. His employer says they can put him on Cobra Insurance. $1780.00 a month. That is so we can keep our primary care physician otherwise we'll have to start all over again with a doctor we don't know.
- We literally have been scraping by maxing out our credit cards and borrowing from family just for the very basic essentials, food etc...
- I take side jobs here and there to bring in what I can but he needs me at home helping him with daily living routines, being that he is currently limited to the one hand and arm.
- It tears me up inside to see him feeling inadequate. He hasn't said that. That is my opinion. Where he was once the bread winner of our household and now we have no income coming in, which is absolutely NO fault of his, but as his wife, I can see it's all taking a toll on him. When he should be focused on healing and feeling relief. He is so stressed out on how we're going to pay our bills. For example our rent was past due as of the sixth.
- Above all though, Mike is so courageous and is such an amazing example. He shows sacrifice and love and patience and endurance and just keeps on fighting!!
- I'm praying that we can get the emergency assistance that he needs to be able to keep focus on getting better & recovering again and again throughout the upcoming surgeries that will follow.
- I'm asking from the very bottom of my heart for ANY help that can help ease this burden. I want more than anything for my husband to know that this is just a temporary set back. I'd love for him to feel hope and encourage his fight to get better and feel stronger everyday. Even though we have a road to walk, he's NOT walking it alone.
- Anything is something towards our goal, and very humbly appreciated!
- Thank you again for taking the time to read our story!
- I will be posting updates accordingly.
Sincerely,
Shannon Hendricks