Septorhinoplasty Surgery

Dear friends and family,

Thank you for taking a moment to hear my story.

For about 10 years, I've been waiting for the right time to launch this 'gofundme' campaign. It's not easy for me to reach out for support in this particular way, yet I sit with this situation every day and continually return to the same answer; that it is time for me to move forward. I have also come to realize that asking for help is nothing to be ashamed of, it is part of being a healthy human and I pray we can all ask for help when we need it.

When I was 11 years old, I was playing with a friend in the classroom at school. We were playfully rocking on the front legs of our chairs and holding hands across the table between us. My friend suddenly pulled on my hands, which thrust me forward. The chair legs shot out behind me and my nose hit the edge of the table as I fell. In that moment I badly broke my nose. Unfortunately I did not receive the care I required immediately and didn't make it to the hospital until the following day. At this point my nose was so swollen, the staff said they were not able to check for breakages and there was nothing they could do. As the swelling went down it was clear there was a breakage. Due to the injury, my breathing had been disrupted with little to no flow on the right hand side. I went to see an ENT specialist who agreed I would need surgery. At age 16 I went in for surgery which was intended to fix the break and create proper flow of breath through both nostrils. I spent 6 weeks in bandages and packing in my nose. When they finally removed the bandages and packing from inside my nose the difference in my breathing from before surgery was like night and day. I shed many tears of joy, I could breathe normally again. That said, my body continued to grow and so over the next few years the surgery reversed and I found myself once again with seriously limited airflow on the right hand side.

Over the past 20 years I have experienced many side effects to this injury and breakage including pain radiating over the entire right side of my face especially through my right side nose and up into my eye and jaw. I know that by not having the proper flow of breath through both sides of the nose can cause deeper issues throughout the entire body. I have worked with countless practitioners including massage therapists, Rolfers, Craniosacral therapists. I even went to an Ayurvedic hospital for 5 weeks in my early 20's to see if there was something they could do to help without having more surgery! All of these approaches and techniques have been amazing for the temporary relief they have given me (not to mention the education I have received through this deep dive into my own healing). That said, I have never found a long term solution. 10 years ago I finally came to realize I would need to have surgery again in order to resolve this issue. I believe that the journey I have taken with this injury, from day one, has been a deep teacher for me. I have been places and met people I might never have, if it hadn't been for this.

I have battled with how I would ever find the way to have surgery. For one, it is not something I take lightly. Surgery is an intense experience and requires time for healing afterwards. And, realistically, for me to have the quality of surgery I need for my particular situation, I will need to raise a large amount of money. I have worked through a a lot of feelings around why not to go ahead with this. Now, I feel ready to find a way to make it happen. I know that this will have a positive impact on my life and thus ripple out into the work that I do in the world in more ways than I can describe. I am ready to breathe fully. I am ready to be pain free. I am ready to share my voice in ways that I am excited to uncover beyond this surgery!

This is a humble request for your support in my healing journey. This surgery is not a life or death situation and it is still deeply important to me. I spend my life encouraging others to follow their truth, to listen to the calling of their souls purpose. It is therefore important that I do so too!

The surgery is not covered by my insurance. I have received an estimate for the procedure for $20,000. This will cover all of my fees. The additional $2000 is to help with travel costs as I may have to get this work done out of state and make a few trips for follow-ups.

Any donation small or large is welcome and deeply appreciated. And, if money is not possible right now, I gratefully welcome your well wishes! Thank you friends and family for your support and prayers!

Love,

Susan