Support Dorian's Journey to Recovery and Independence

Hello, my name is Dorian, and I’m reaching out for support as I work through a challenging recovery journey. In 2010, I received a life-changing kidney transplant thanks to my incredible mother, who donated one of her kidneys to save my life. Since then, I’ve been deeply grateful for my family’s love and support through each medical challenge, and I cherish every day all the more because of them.

My journey has been made more complex by the effects of necessary anti-rejection medications, which have caused bone density loss, ligament weakness, and spinal stenosis over the years. These medications have also led to significant dental issues, resulting in the loss of many teeth and the need for implants and extensive dental work, none of which is covered by insurance. I’m scheduled to receive this dental work at Touro Dental School, where the procedures will still be costly, despite being done at a teaching institution.

In May 2024, I experienced an unexpected setback when I suffered a serious fall, rupturing my quadricep tendon. This injury required immediate surgery, followed by three months of recovery. Throughout that time, my wife Karen was my primary caretaker, stepping away from work to care for me full-time and sacrificing her income to help me through.

After the quadricep recovery, I underwent two cervical spine surgeries this past September aimed at improving my spinal health and stability. While these surgeries were initially successful, they led to a complication called C5 palsy, which has left my dominant arm severely weakened. I spent 34 days in the hospital and rehab, and now I’m facing a long journey of physical and occupational therapy to regain the use of my arm and work toward independence.

Adding to these challenges, I lost my job in November 2023 due to my health issues, and I’ve been without work income for nearly a year. Currently, I’m on disability, but it only covers a portion of our expenses, making it difficult to keep up with medical bills, therapy, and daily costs. Additionally, during my hospital stay, my prescription glasses were accidentally disposed of by hospital staff, which is another unexpected expense we need to cover.

In the meantime, I’m learning to do daily tasks with my non-dominant arm. One of my primary goals is to be able to type with both hands, allowing me to work remotely as a substance use disorder counselor—a role I’m passionate about and find deeply rewarding. Until I can drive again, this type of work would be a lifeline, giving me both purpose and the ability to support myself and my family.

How Your Support Will Help Us: The funds from this campaign will go directly toward:

My goals are to regain mobility and function in my dominant arm, type with both hands to find remote work in counseling, and eventually drive a car. Your support—whether through a donation or by sharing this page—would mean the world to us and bring hope to our family as I work toward recovery.

Thank you for your kindness, compassion, and generosity.