
Support Yvonne's Recovery from Severe Spinal Compression
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Hello everyone. My name is Yvonne. A back story on my condition. I graduated college in May of this year, and I found my dream job. Everything was going well until two months ago I started feel unsteady, and felt like I was going to fall every day. A month ago I started falling at work and home. I was using a cane at first until the falls and the spasms in both my knees started occurring more frequently. So then I started using a walker. It was helping for a while but then I was consistently falling and having spasms, and was forced to start using a wheelchair. I went to see a chiropractor and after a X-ray of my spine I was told that I would need an MRI because it showed that I had severe compression on my nerves in my L4-L5 and S1 region (in my lower back). These nerves are severely compressed that it has caused me to not move the way I normally do, I am unable to move my lower extremities, and the pain from my mid back on down to my toes are excruciating. I scheduled the MRI for November 1st and continued to work because bills don’t stop and I needed to help my husband to take care of us. On Wednesday night the pain became unbearable and my husband took me to the ER. I was taken to have a four hour head-to-toe MRI completed and it confirmed what my chiropractor had told me about my lower back, but they also found that my cervical area (in my neck) and my thoracic area (upper and mid back area where there lungs are) that they were also severely compressed and have blockage. They came in yesterday to let me know that I will need surgery immediately to fix the acute problem with my lower extremities. The surgery will be Monday (October 28th) and that I will need another surgery in a month to correct the lower back compression and stenosis issues.
I am a very private person and I do not like to ask for charity or help but will always be the first person to help others when they’re in need. Many of our friends, church members and family had no idea what was happening until they saw what I was going through, or read a post that my husband and I had put on Facebook to keep me in their prayers. This condition has rendered me speechless, frightened and embarrassed. More reasons on why I remain private. However, with how quickly this condition has progressed and in such a short time that I needed to be humble and ask for help at this time. The reason for this GoFundMe is because at my dream job I have to be employed for a year before I can get medical insurance. I need this surgery but I currently do not have insurance. My husband works and has spoken with his boss about getting medical insurance for he and I because he is currently part-time at his job. The boss said he will see what he can do. In the meantime, everything will be self-pay. After speaking with the neurosurgery team I was told that I will need to be out of work for a while and it can take anywhere from 6-9 months. I am the main person to financially support our home along with my husband, and since I started my job any paid time off, sick time and vacation time does not start until after one year of employment time, too. Finances are sure to increase and it will put a strain on us. I just want to make sure that the medical bills that are already coming our way, and our bills at home will be taken care of while I try to recover from surgery and because I will need to take time off from work. My husband will still be working but will have to cut back on hours, too, to help me get to appointments including physical therapy because I will not be able to drive myself. Also to help me at home with my recovery on days that I may not be feeling well or am in terrible pain.
I appreciate the time you took to read this. I appreciate any help that you are able to give whether it be a monetary donation, a prayer, a kind thought, phone calls or text messages I will humbly accept it and THANK YOU from my heart. I wish you all great health and will keep y’all updated on this new journey. Much love and respect to all of you.
Organizer
YVONNE TUILIMU
Organizer
Bastrop, LA