Britt Hildebrand ( 2020 Lawrence Community )
Many of you know my story, but for those who don’t: over the past several years, I’ve undergone 8 ankle surgeries trying to repair chronic osteochondral defects and bone edema in my right talus. Unfortunately, most of those surgeries have not brought me relief, and I now live with CRPS (Complex Regional Pain Syndrome) ... one of the most painful conditions there is.
---> I’ve undergone eight surgeries trying to repair ongoing damage and defects in my talus.
The first arthroscopic surgery failed as they missed the defect due to the position.
The second attempted to repair an osteochondral defect in the medial posterior talus.
The third involved a bone marrow graft from my hip to my talus, a bunion correction, and ligament reconstruction to improve alignment.
The fourth tried to repair the medial defect again using bone cement, but it failed — and that’s when I was diagnosed with CRPS (Complex Regional Pain Syndrome).
The fifth was a nerve decompression surgery, which unfortunately didn’t help.
The sixth addressed new defects in both the talus and tibia, and another procedure added a calcaneal osteotomy to relieve pressure on the talus.
The seventh was a spinal cord stimulator implant to help manage CRPS pain.
And somewhere in there was an eighth surgery....truthfully, I’ve lost count. It’s been a long, exhausting road
But there is hope. ❤️
I’ve been given the chance to receive the ExoSym brace at the Hanger Clinic. This isn’t just a brace, it’s life-changing technology.
It can give me back something I’ve been missing for years: mobility without pain. With this brace, I could walk more freely, hike again, maybe even run. But most importantly, I could avoid more surgeries.
Getting the ExoSym means traveling out of state, covering both medical and travel expenses. It’s not easy for me to ask for help, but I know I can’t do this alone. Every single donation, no matter the size, brings me closer to getting my life back.
The cost covers:
- Consultation fees
- Cost of Materials for the custom brace
- Fitting and adjustments
- Functional training with the brace
- Travel
- Stay & other fees
If you’ve ever enjoyed a run, a hike, a soccer game, or even just a simple walk outside, you know how much freedom movement brings. That’s the freedom I’m fighting for.
Thank you for reading, sharing, and supporting me on this journey. Your kindness truly means the world.
Learn about the Exosym here:
Organizer
