Save Joni Toews! Help End His Pain with Surgery

JONI NEEDS OUR HELP!

I created this gofundme to help save my best friend.

He desperately needs a disc replacement surgery that is only possible in Germany.

If left untreated, Joni will continue to suffer a lifetime of pain, permanent nerve damage, and eventually lose the ability to walk.

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For those of you that know Joni, you are well aware of the joy and happiness he brings into our lives. His infectious laughter, his never-ending smile, his ability to bring us together, and his undeniable talent for making even the darkest days brighter are just a few of the many reasons why we love him.

However, behind the laughter, the DJ shows, the funny videos, and the dance moves lies a silent battle that Joni has been facing for the past 2.5 years – a battle against a degenerated disc disease.

I still remember the day he hobbled over to me to say hi at my work and he mentioned that he couldn’t feel his foot. He was limping and in pain. Little did we know this was the beginning of a long excruciating road for my beloved friend Joni.

I’ve had to watch the pain spread throughout his body, and watch the life slowly get sucked out of him. Joni is an adventurer, like me, like you, like so many of us in the sea-to-sky. He was out adventuring for many years, without knowing that his spine was degenerating rapidly. He was his normal Joni self, the goof trying to make everyone laugh, the positive and happy Joni that wants to see his friends succeed and win. The Joni that just wants to bring music and happy vibes to Whistler, his hometown.

Watching this injury steal his spirit has been very hard to see.

I’ve seen Joni try everything to stay afloat. I’ve had a front row seat watching the pain spread throughout his leg and back. I’ve seen him go in and out of hospitals like they were a Starbucks. I’ve seen him not accepting “no cure” as an answer. I’ve seen him travel to the best doctors near and far spending every dollar he has on experimental treatments and procedures.

Treatments/Procedures Joni has undergone since 2021:

2x Selective Nerve Root Blocks

6x Cortisone Injections

1x Anesthesia Epidural

5x Prolotherapy

2x PRP

2x Ozone

1.8 Billion Adipose Stem Cells (Honduras)

850 Million Mesenchymal Stem Cells (Colombia)

60 Hours of Physio Therapy

Hypnotherapy

Chiro

Acupuncture

RMT

Peptide BPC 157

Peptide TB 500

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Medical Team: S Helper, C Fisher, J Forrestal, B Mcknight, A Coatze, J Mah, P Clark, A Shannon, J Carr, R Tamplin, H Adellson, G Terry, A Alvarez, J Alejandro

Hospital Visits: 31

Emergency Room: 5

Ambulance Rides: 1

MRIs: 5

X-Rays - 1

Total Clinical Injections: 97

Despite the research, time, & money invested in these treatments, nothing has worked. Joni and his family have spent $150,000.00 on these treatments leaving them financially exhausted.

One Last Option - A Spark of Hope!

Three months ago, Joni met with a new spine specialist in Calgary. Expecting another “I’m doomed for life” consultation, Joni was genuinely excited to tell me there was a viable surgical option. His doctor educated him about a revolutionary disc replacement procedure that has shown remarkable success in cases like his. Unfortunately this is not available in Canada and he was referred to the best spine clinic in the world… ONZ, Germany.

Joni has met with the surgeons at ONZ Clinic in Germany. They have examined his medical history & MRIs in depth. The medical team at ONZ confirm he is an ideal candidate for a disc replacement. He is young and in great shape. Despite his disc being in critical condition, the area surrounding the degenerated disc is strong and healthy. They are confident this surgery will stop most if not all of his pain and restore mobility.

Boasting a 90% success rate. This procedure has already saved 1000s of lives. The ONZ clinic has connected Joni with some of their previous patients. He told me how amazing it was to talk to people that have been what he is going through right now.

Seems too good to be true, what’s the catch?

This surgery is extremely expensive and located across the world.

This is where we come in. This is why I created this page. To raise money for Joni.

If we can’t get him this surgery, he will continue to live in excruciating never-ending pain. His condition will get worse. He will have permanent nerve damage.

Your contribution, no matter the size, will make a difference!

If money is not possible for you to donate. Please share Joni's story to get the word out.

I want Joni’s life back. I want Joni’s spirit back. I want my best friend back.

Thank you for taking the time to read Joni's story and my plea for help.

With love,

Maxine

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***100% of donations will go to his surgery, travel costs, medication, and 6 months rehabilitation.***