Support Mandi's Journey to Pain-Free Living

Hey, it’s me, Mandi. As some of you may already know, I’m having back surgery next week. It was supposed to happen last month but kept getting canceled due to insurance denying a specific code. So now, I have been rescheduled to August 15. The bad part is, the code that kept getting denied by insurance is the osteotomy part which is crucial to this surgery. So the doctor said he will go ahead and do the surgery but that specific thing will need to be coming out of my own pocket. It’s estimated to cost between $6,000 and $10,000. That’s just my out of pocket portion.

The problem I have is called spondylolisthesis and it’s literally causing my spinal nerves running down my legs to be crushed making it hard for me to walk. My legs are constantly burning and I am just miserable.

I have needed this surgery for well over 10 years and I have been putting it off for numerous reasons and now that I am finally ready, this happens. It’s an inpatient procedure that’s going to keep me in the hospital for about a week. Constant outpatient physical therapy afterwards, paying a babysitter for all of the help I am going to need and putting food on the table. Overwhelming. I thought I was prepared and had enough money stashed away, but that’s not the case. Life threw a curveball at me, yet again. Lol. The procedure I’m having is called a TLIF and in the end, I’m going to end up with a fusion and rods and screws. Hoping that it takes away my pain! Just want to live a normal life and play with my kids and be able to get out of bed without feeling so much agony.

I am asking for help, which I absolutely despise doing, because I need this surgery. Not only for myself, but for my kiddos to have their mom back.