Christys miracle back repair!
Donation protected
Meet my friend Christy Hale
Powell.....she is like a sister to me.....we share the same last name, and a similar first name, but met only by chance.....I choose to believe it was a God Wink.....we were put into eachothers lives for many reasons.....including to be lifelong friends and to always be there for eachother....in good times and in bad. This picture reflects the good times.....This was 10 years ago, before her life was turned upside down by one surgery after another.....this vibrant young woman, mother of two beautiful and caring daughters, is now confined to a wheelchair. She was a vibrant coveted teacher. Giving her all to her school and her students. There is no more sailing, no more dancing.....no more walking. Every moment she is in pain. She has not been able to work in years due to her original injury to her lower back. She has resigned to dealing with that injury and the results that have come from multiple surgeries to fix her lower back problem. There apparently is no fix for the lower back, she will have to live with that for the rest of her life. But while trying to live her life to the fullest with the handicap from her lower back injury, by using a walker, she injured her cervical spine as well, herniating discs in multiple areas and re-injuring an existing fusion. This is what is most problematic and painful right now. She has no range of motion, can not turn her head, and has incredible difficulty sleeping. She is in constant pain, ALL the time. Christy's 15 year old daughter is amazing and cares for her daily, helping her get in and out of the shower, in and out of the car, up and down her wheelchair ramp. This once vibrant friend of mine dove off our sailboat to save a winch handle that fell overboard on our sailboat, at the finish line of a race, without thinking about it! Now she can't get in and out of a chair without assistance and excruciating pain. She simply wants relief from the constant pain in her neck, shoulders and back. She wants to be able to use her hands again. The nerve damage has diminished her ability to pinch and grab.
We have sought the opinion of three surgeons (one here in Houston) who all turned her away. Said there is nothing they can do to an existing fusion. Told her she would have to live with it. Well that is no way to live. I have never seen her cry....in 6 years of dealing with this, not a tear, until that last doctor said "I'm sorry, I can't help you".
She would not give up hope. Finally, she found a surgeon in Germany who has been performing surgeries on spinal fusions for years. How are we so far behind? He has done thousands of successful surgeries, not only relieving pain, but restoring mobility and flexibility. They can not perform these surgeries in the US due to all of our regulations. But they have been doing them there for years and with tremendous life giving results. She is willing to risk everything to have this surgery. The problem is she is struggling.....barely making ends meet...on disability....trying to make monthly payments for bills and keep her life afloat for her and her family while staying upbeat and positive all the time.
The surgery costs approximately 33000 Euros which right now equals about $36,000. Then she needs to pay for a hotel for a week following surgery and airfare for herself and a companion. I have decided to try to raise $50,000 on her behaf.
I have seen her suffer....I have seen her wince with every movement, I have heard her pray for a blessing, for a miracle, I have heard her talking about wanting to be able to be active with her daughters, dance at their weddings, and to be able to teach again....she was an incredible teacher, loved by so many. She made a difference. I want my friend back! I want my friends back back.
Any donation is appreciated no matter how small.
Powell.....she is like a sister to me.....we share the same last name, and a similar first name, but met only by chance.....I choose to believe it was a God Wink.....we were put into eachothers lives for many reasons.....including to be lifelong friends and to always be there for eachother....in good times and in bad. This picture reflects the good times.....This was 10 years ago, before her life was turned upside down by one surgery after another.....this vibrant young woman, mother of two beautiful and caring daughters, is now confined to a wheelchair. She was a vibrant coveted teacher. Giving her all to her school and her students. There is no more sailing, no more dancing.....no more walking. Every moment she is in pain. She has not been able to work in years due to her original injury to her lower back. She has resigned to dealing with that injury and the results that have come from multiple surgeries to fix her lower back problem. There apparently is no fix for the lower back, she will have to live with that for the rest of her life. But while trying to live her life to the fullest with the handicap from her lower back injury, by using a walker, she injured her cervical spine as well, herniating discs in multiple areas and re-injuring an existing fusion. This is what is most problematic and painful right now. She has no range of motion, can not turn her head, and has incredible difficulty sleeping. She is in constant pain, ALL the time. Christy's 15 year old daughter is amazing and cares for her daily, helping her get in and out of the shower, in and out of the car, up and down her wheelchair ramp. This once vibrant friend of mine dove off our sailboat to save a winch handle that fell overboard on our sailboat, at the finish line of a race, without thinking about it! Now she can't get in and out of a chair without assistance and excruciating pain. She simply wants relief from the constant pain in her neck, shoulders and back. She wants to be able to use her hands again. The nerve damage has diminished her ability to pinch and grab.
We have sought the opinion of three surgeons (one here in Houston) who all turned her away. Said there is nothing they can do to an existing fusion. Told her she would have to live with it. Well that is no way to live. I have never seen her cry....in 6 years of dealing with this, not a tear, until that last doctor said "I'm sorry, I can't help you".
She would not give up hope. Finally, she found a surgeon in Germany who has been performing surgeries on spinal fusions for years. How are we so far behind? He has done thousands of successful surgeries, not only relieving pain, but restoring mobility and flexibility. They can not perform these surgeries in the US due to all of our regulations. But they have been doing them there for years and with tremendous life giving results. She is willing to risk everything to have this surgery. The problem is she is struggling.....barely making ends meet...on disability....trying to make monthly payments for bills and keep her life afloat for her and her family while staying upbeat and positive all the time.
The surgery costs approximately 33000 Euros which right now equals about $36,000. Then she needs to pay for a hotel for a week following surgery and airfare for herself and a companion. I have decided to try to raise $50,000 on her behaf.
I have seen her suffer....I have seen her wince with every movement, I have heard her pray for a blessing, for a miracle, I have heard her talking about wanting to be able to be active with her daughters, dance at their weddings, and to be able to teach again....she was an incredible teacher, loved by so many. She made a difference. I want my friend back! I want my friends back back.
Any donation is appreciated no matter how small.
Organizer and beneficiary
David and'Kristin Powell
Organizer
Kingwood, TX
Christina Powell
Beneficiary