Surgery Leaves Patient A Paraplegic
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Family and Friends:
Following surgery on August 1, 2014, to replace a pain pump in my abdomen, I was left suddenly and unexpectedly paralyzed from the mid-abdomen down. After multiple tests, CT scans, x-rays, MRI's, mylegram, etc, I was diagnosed with Transverse Meylitis. However, after a process of elimination, and further scrutiny of the imaging scans, the true cause became clear, and the damage has already been done. It appears that last year when I had back surgery, the intrathecal catheter in my back was cut during surgery, and in the attempt to splice the catheter back together, and subsequent packing around the catheter twice a day to resolve the post-op infection, the catheter tip ended up sticking into my spinal cord, causing some issues at the time. When they replaced my pump on August 1, 2014, they found a "kink" in the catheter in my abdomen that was reducing flow to the catheter tip. So, they removed 14cm of the catheter in my abdomen, and installed the new pump, and resumed normal flow to the spine, not konwing that the tip of the catheter was stuck in my spinal cord. Over the next several days, I developed numerous symptoms which slowly progressed to complete paralysis from the mid-abdomen down by August 12, 2014. Needless to say becoming paralyzed under such circumstances are physically, mentally, emotionally, and financially exhausting. I'm working very hard on the physical, mental, and emotional aspects, however, the financial impact is out of my control. There are immediate needs that I require to just be able to go home, and be able to function there safely. These include home remodeling, assistive devices, transportation, rehabillitation equipment, etc. Any financial assistance you can give will go toward my immediate healthcare needs, and modifications to transportation, and only the most necessary assistive devices. On the Wish List you will see I have listed an Ultralight wheelchair. While insurance will pay for a wheelchair, my Physical Therapist, and Occupational Therapist, strongly believe that I need the Ultralight wheelchair because it only weighs 15 pounds, and with my previous back surgeries, I would benefit from having the lightest wheelchair available. So I've added it to the wish list just in case insurance won't cover the Ultralight chair. All the other items on the wish list are are NOT covered by insurance, while some items are required for me to go home, others are to give me the best possible rehabillitation from the home. These items are based upon the recommendation of my PT and OT, and my spinal rehabillitation physician. It is very hard to send out this web-site to firends and family because I feel uncomfortable for asking for assistance. The rehab staff encourages patients to use resources like this to help get the essential items, and if enough is raised, get the items that are not necessary to go home, however, are necessary to long-term recovery. Since we live so far from Springfield, doing the optimal therapy is not feasible, so several peices of equipment on the wist list are devices I would use during outpatient rehab, however, having them available at home will increase my odds of regaining some useful function.
May the peace of the Lord be with you always!
Trevor
Following surgery on August 1, 2014, to replace a pain pump in my abdomen, I was left suddenly and unexpectedly paralyzed from the mid-abdomen down. After multiple tests, CT scans, x-rays, MRI's, mylegram, etc, I was diagnosed with Transverse Meylitis. However, after a process of elimination, and further scrutiny of the imaging scans, the true cause became clear, and the damage has already been done. It appears that last year when I had back surgery, the intrathecal catheter in my back was cut during surgery, and in the attempt to splice the catheter back together, and subsequent packing around the catheter twice a day to resolve the post-op infection, the catheter tip ended up sticking into my spinal cord, causing some issues at the time. When they replaced my pump on August 1, 2014, they found a "kink" in the catheter in my abdomen that was reducing flow to the catheter tip. So, they removed 14cm of the catheter in my abdomen, and installed the new pump, and resumed normal flow to the spine, not konwing that the tip of the catheter was stuck in my spinal cord. Over the next several days, I developed numerous symptoms which slowly progressed to complete paralysis from the mid-abdomen down by August 12, 2014. Needless to say becoming paralyzed under such circumstances are physically, mentally, emotionally, and financially exhausting. I'm working very hard on the physical, mental, and emotional aspects, however, the financial impact is out of my control. There are immediate needs that I require to just be able to go home, and be able to function there safely. These include home remodeling, assistive devices, transportation, rehabillitation equipment, etc. Any financial assistance you can give will go toward my immediate healthcare needs, and modifications to transportation, and only the most necessary assistive devices. On the Wish List you will see I have listed an Ultralight wheelchair. While insurance will pay for a wheelchair, my Physical Therapist, and Occupational Therapist, strongly believe that I need the Ultralight wheelchair because it only weighs 15 pounds, and with my previous back surgeries, I would benefit from having the lightest wheelchair available. So I've added it to the wish list just in case insurance won't cover the Ultralight chair. All the other items on the wish list are are NOT covered by insurance, while some items are required for me to go home, others are to give me the best possible rehabillitation from the home. These items are based upon the recommendation of my PT and OT, and my spinal rehabillitation physician. It is very hard to send out this web-site to firends and family because I feel uncomfortable for asking for assistance. The rehab staff encourages patients to use resources like this to help get the essential items, and if enough is raised, get the items that are not necessary to go home, however, are necessary to long-term recovery. Since we live so far from Springfield, doing the optimal therapy is not feasible, so several peices of equipment on the wist list are devices I would use during outpatient rehab, however, having them available at home will increase my odds of regaining some useful function.
May the peace of the Lord be with you always!
Trevor
Organizer
Trevor Isaac Hale
Organizer
Blue Eye, MO