Support McKay's Journey Through Spinal Surgery

Introduction

Pictured in the photo is myself (on the left) and my husband, McKay, on the right. McKay wants to attend optometry school next fall and I currently work with kids who have disabilities. We have been married for just over 2 years and are facing a situation that will cause a financial hardship for us. Please read the story below to understand what has happened and why we are seeking help.

Surgery #1

In 2018, McKay suffered an injury playing high school tennis. Originally he thought that it was just his hamstring but it turned out to also be a slipped disc in his back (L4-L5). Since he did not know it was a slipped disc, he went on a mission for his church in Guatemala. The pain and symptoms became unbearable for McKay and he was sent home.

Due to the strenuous labor of his mission, the disc herniated. He tried physical therapy and steroid injections before being told he would need surgery. In February of 2020, right before Covid, McKay had his first back surgery where the doctor shaved down his disc to help the inflammation and swelling go down. After this surgery, he was told the odds of the disc slipping again would be between 5-15%.

Surgery #2

In the fall of 2022, McKay began feeling pain in his lower back. Knowing what was causing the pain, we went to the doctor to get it checked out. We hoped it was only slipped out and could be fixed by either physical therapy or a steroid injection, but McKay ended up in that small percentage of it rupturing again. In January of 2023 — nearly 3 years after his first surgery — McKay again went under the surgeon’s blade. We were told that it was a coin flip whether or not it would slip again in the future; his doctor also informed us that a third rupture would have to be a completely different surgery.

Now

In February of this year, McKay began feeling pain in the same spot. Due to the timing of his schooling and pre-planned events, McKay was unable to see a doctor until the end of April. He was given some nerve relaxers and told to hope for the best.

In the middle of May, McKay began to notice his legs go fully numb when he would lay down. The numbness was not a typical symptom for his original injury, so he had 3 MRI’s done: a lower back, an upper back, and a neck. The results showed there are 2 discs that have slipped (one in his neck and one in his upper back) and the same one has herniated.

This cannot be fixed through physical therapy or steroid injection. McKay is only 24 years old and he now has to have a spinal fusion done on his back, decreasing his movement and flexibility for the rest of his life. After the surgery, McKay will have to stay in the hospital for the 3 nights, wear a back brace and be in bed rest for 6 weeks, and complete physical therapy for 4-6 months.

Goals

I do have a full-time job I will continue to work, but we know how expensive medical bills can be and my income can only go so far. With the money we receive from this, we will be able to pay off the medical bills from the surgery, buy groceries for meals, and keep us afloat during this difficult time. We understand the current economy makes life difficult, so no donation is too small!