Who would have known I’d need neurosurgery at age 36. Not sure how we got here exactly but here we are. And yes, I’m creating my own GoFundMe because I don’t want someone else to be speaking on my behalf as if I’m already dead. I’ve got way too much to live for.

I guess you could say symptoms started about 3 or 4 weeks ago. My right toe felt numb. I thought “maybe it was the shoes”? Let it go a few days, didn’t resolve. I went to my local urgent care, wondering what could this be? Was recommended get an MRI spine. When I got the results I was taken back. I actually opened up the results before I went to work that morning. Seeing words like “mass, lesion, fluid collection, thecal sac”? That’s when fear struck, but I went ahead & went to work anyways, hiding behind uncertainty & a fake smile.

A few days went by & I hadn’t heard anything from the ordering provider (secretly hoping that meant maybe not a big deal). I was wrong. I got ahold of a physician and they said I need to see a neurosurgeon IMMEDIATELY. I walked myself into the SRMC ER, curious to see what comes next. They got me straight back without delay. They did a full spine and brain MRI w/contrast, CT lumbar spine, and a myelogram with CT. I saw a neurosurgeon. He broke it down for me: there’s bone erosion, severe stenosis, etc. Going to require neurosurgery in hopes to remove this thing on my spinal cord and restore my L1 nerve integrity (meaning my L1 nerve is starting to go, & if we lose it I’ll have permanent numbness to my lower abdomen, groin area, weakness to the lower back). Unfortunately no neurosurgery comes without risk. He determined: “MRI and lumbar CT myelogram support lumbar 1 nerve root pseudomeningocele with or without ancient root evulsion.” Surgery likely in the next few weeks.

For those of you who don’t know we have a 3 1/2 yo daughter & a 10 mo old son. Kyle will be stepping away from work to care for them & l during this difficult time. If you can support me & my family, it would be greatly appreciated. If not, just send a prayer as I know that’s what truly matters most.