Support Jessica Smith's Spinal Fusion Recovery

Hi, my name is Jessica Smith. I'm a 32-year-old single parent to 7 and 12-year-olds. Yesterday, I had to have a spinal fusion in order to keep my ability to walk.

On May 1st, 2013, I was in a not-at-fault car accident causing the birth of my daughter and severe back pain.

From 2014-2015, doctors sent me for no PT and no imaging, only prescribing heavy pain pills.

From 2015-2020, I went to PT numerous times, still with no imaging.

In September 2020, at the end of the month, I started getting such severe pain it was affecting my mobility.

In October 2020, at the end of the month, after waiting a month for an MRI that was still three months away, I went to the ER because of loss of feeling in my right leg. Found out the disk at my L4/L5 was herniated. I was admitted to the hospital and had urgent surgery.

Healed and was doing well until September 2023 when I was t-boned on the driver's side by a woman who did not stop at her stop sign coming off the highway. After an MRI and CT, I found the L4/L5 disk was re-herniated.

In April 2024, the disk completely herniated and caused loss of feeling in my left leg. After two spinal injections, it was decided surgery was necessary. After a new MRI and CT, we found we could no longer do a repair and a fusion was needed, which I was not prepared for financially, physically, or emotionally.

On June 3, 2025, after appealing a last-minute insurance denial, I had my spinal fusion.

Due to the recovery process, I am unable to work for at least the next 12 weeks. In addition to living expenses while out of work, I have medical expenses associated with the surgery and physical therapy.

I'm asking for help so that I can recover without having to worry about taking care of my family and returning to work before my body has been allowed to heal. Any help is greatly appreciated .