Hi, my name is Samir. I am putting this together to help my friend cover medical expenses for her upcoming surgeries.

In mid-2024, she learned that she had some severe spinal instability. Her skull is detached (dislocated) from her cervical spine. She is currently in a cervical collar, possibly moving up to a halo vest very soon while she awaits surgery to realign and fuse her skull back onto her spine.

However, due to her genetic connective tissue disease, she cannot see just any neurosurgeon. Very few surgeons regularly do this surgery as it is, and many will not take EDS patients.

After much research done by both her neurologist and herself, there are three surgeons who she feels safe and comfortable trusting with this very dangerous procedure, one in Maryland, one in New York, and one in Barcelona, Spain.

All of them have significant waitlists and do not take medical insurance. Spain is looking the most promising, he’s the most highly recommended and people fly worldwide to see him. She has completed our preliminary consultation and will be flying out for in-depth scans and surgical evaluation in early September.

This is also (obviously) delaying her much-needed abdominal and hip repair surgery in Philadelphia, which is unfortunate as she is in a lot of pain without abdominal muscles attached.

Anyway, a lot is happening, some terrifying things. Prayers are appreciated as she moves forward and she hopes that doors will open to repair this as quickly as possible.

It’s a miracle she's alive and functioning at all. Yes, she does have some severe symptoms and complications, but the survival rate is low and even lower to maintain functionality, so she's very grateful she is still here, and grateful for her amazing neurologist who has never given up on her, even when all the other doctors told her she was crazy, and that nothing was wrong.

All donations will be going toward this lifesaving procedure in Barcelona, and if she is blessed with even more than needed for that, it will go towards the abdominal and hip repairs and treatment for her heart.