Recovery from back surgery

My name is Sam and I’m raising funds to help with our expenses while my wife is recovering from back surgery.

My wife was diagnosed with cauda equina syndrome in December which is a condition where the nerves and spinal cord are compressed, usually due to a prolapsed disc. My wife had a laminectomy and discectomy of her L4 and L5 to remove the portion that was compressing the nerves. Unfortunately, surgery was done too late which has left her with a neurogenic bladder requiring her to have a catheter in place and also significant weakness down her left leg. Because of the pain and weakness she can only walk very short distances and requires a wheelchair to help her move around most of the time.

2 weeks after her initial surgery she was sent back to Melbourne for a rare surgical complication called psuedomeningecele. This is where spinal fluid leaks into the tissue around the surgical site causing it to balloon up. She required a second surgery to drain the CSF and also explore to see where the leak was coming from. The surgical site was reinforced with hundred of sutures and surgical glue as they couldn’t find the leak.

This week she was flown back to Melbourne for a third time as she developed a post op infection. Unbeknownst to us, she also had a fracture of her L4 that was picked up via CT scan.

We have 3 daughters, 16, 9, and 2 who I have the responsibility of looking after while my wife is in hospital and when she’s at home recovering. Our 2 youngest have special needs so it can be difficult.

Because of her ongoing back issues and not being able to help with the kids, I’ve had to take and extended leave off work and my studies. I currently work as an Ambulance Community Officer while Studying Paramedicine. Any help we can get during this difficult time would be very much appreciated as we’re currently almost at the end of our savings due to paying for accommodation and fuel to get to Melbourne, which is 4 hours away from where we live.

Surgical site after initial surgery

Build up of fluid 2 weeks after initial surgery (psuedomeningecele)

Current infection requiring a third admission in Melbourne at RMH. We also discovered that during her previous surgery they fractured her L4.