Spine treatment for Dennis Raymond

17 years ago my husband, Dennis Raymond, started having severe back pain.  The pain has gotten worse every year and now is unbearable.

Dennis is on the right. With one of our sons , his wife and our first Grandson.

Dennis is the kindest human being I have ever known. He loves his family and friends deeply. His favourite thing is to help others.

Now, he needs help.

He has never given up. He has tried every treatment we could find. Everything from physiotherapy, acupuncture, lidocaine infusions, a veritable pharmacy of drugs, supplements, and alternative treatments.

The pain continues to worsen and the doctors here have nothing to offer - other than more drugs. He also gets massages and meditates, but the pain has sucked much of the life out of my best friend and soulmate. (Corny to say that, I know, but nevertheless it is true.)

He is a gentle, intelligent and curious soul. He adores our three children and two Grandsons. He spoils our fur-kids and me. He never hesitates to help a person in need.Dennis with our older son and daughter


He has been a logger, a fishing/river guide in northern British Columbia, an electrician and an electrical wholesale branch manager. He is a proud man and asking for help pains him, but now, not as much as his back.

We met online 20 years ago and he drove 2,500 miles, during the worst blizzards of the year, for our first date! He is a loyal and determined man.

Dennis plays catch with our second Grandson.

He tries to put on a happy face for everyone. He tries to keep busy. He can't sit for more than 15 minutes and sleeps little because of the pain. He hurts the least when he is standing, so he paces...all day. He has to keep moving or he freezes up and the pain becomes more than he can bear. 

He has dreams and is constantly coming up with new ideas, but his pain prevents him from carrying through on many of those ideas. He isn't supposed to lift more than 10 pounds. Bending over to pick something up off the floor is excruciating - especially since he is 6'3"!

The doctors have diagnosed him with osteoarthritis, an unstable SI joint and chronic pain syndrome. They can't explain the swelling along his spine. They throw their hands up in the air and prescribe new drugs, most of which he has been allergic to.

We have been blessed to live in Canada, with comprehensive healthcare. Yet, there are limits to the system - as there are with all healthcare models.

Were we wealthy, we would have sent him to London a decade ago, when the pain doctor told him that they are the best in the world.

We have a very limited income and have been trying to come up with the money ourselves. Unfortunately, we spent all morning our extra money on a water treatment system and have nothing left. We are blessed to have had the ability to treat our toxic well water.

He has reached a critical point, where he actually says, "I can't live like this anymore."  That is a terrifying place to see him. That isn't like him. He is proud and determined.  It has taken 17 years of unending, horrendous pain for him to reach this point for a man whose nature is normally upbeat.

I wouldn't normally ask for help, but we have tried to take care of this on our own. Now, we need to ask for help.

Dennis volunteering.

Please, help this precious man. Please.  Small amounts add up over time. Every penny will help.

The money will go towards the flight, initial diagnosis and treatment.

I promise, swear on my life, that if we are able to do this without spending the full amount, we will donate it to a charity for spinal research, or  help people on KickStarter who need medical care due to pain or spinal injury.

Thank you for reading this far and for considering my plea.
Dennis enjoying a day a local lake. We rented a. Pat and fished for trout.