A nurse needs your help

Hi friends,

In August, I was hurt while working as a nurse. (In December I needed emergent surgery.) I was immediately off work and got into physical therapy for 2 back strains. I kept having a peculiar upper back/neck pain and in October, my right shoulder and then whole arm hurt. (I remember joking I’d like to cut it off it was so bad!) I also had brief mild leg weakness but thought it was because I had lost 20 pounds and needed more micronutrients. As I had been finishing up nursing CEU’s, I remember my hand struggling to take notes. I had no idea it was far more than that! I only see this in hindsight. At this point I was referred for a neurosurgical consult.

Right after Thanksgiving, my pain increased and I began also having muscle spasms in the backs of my arms. A few days later I developed tingling in my legs, the next day it was also in my arms, and this was followed by intense weakness of my legs including difficulty standing and walking. I developed dizziness and was off balance, needing to hold furniture, counters, and walls to keep my balance. An MRI showed that I had cervical myelopathy of C4-5 & C5-6. My neurosurgeon’s words still shock my heart— “I’m sorry to tell you, you have an incomplete spinal cord injury. I don’t know what will recover after surgery.” I needed an anterior cervical discectomy & fusion (ACDF) to fix spinal cord compression caused by 2 cervical herniated discs placing pressure on my spinal cord. YOU GUYS. How is this my life?!! It feels like yesterday things were all normal.

I had worked with spinal cord injured patients for years. I knew what this could be like, yet I had no idea what it was like to be the patient. My family has needed to take over so many chores & things since this all began and I’ve sat out of so many of our special family times because of pain & dysfunction. I have so much more compassion & respect for my patients after feeling some of what they go through.

After a weekend of worsening symptoms where I was going to need a wheelchair if I had to wait any longer, I got into surgery on December 6th. I’m so grateful to my neurosurgeon & all of the people on my medical team who helped me so quickly. The medical system is broken, but the people are good.

Since surgery, the worst of my symptoms have gotten better as my fabulous physical therapist (shout out to Katie!) has helped me physically & emotionally get through this. Helping my balance return, getting my body to remember how to be coordinated, getting me out of pain, strengthening all of my extremities and my core & back. I’m still in progress. It is balm to a weary soul to hear— “It takes time and it’s ok to ask for help.” The whole outpatient therapy crew has been incredible to work with.

I’m having *a return* of symptoms right now. I’m having a return of some dizziness & being off balance, neck pain, AWFUL nerve pain in my arms, continued spasms, and leg tingling & weakness. I’m hoping for an epidural spinal injection very soon to help with pain and other symptoms possibly coming from spinal cord inflammation. My risk of other disc issues increases now by 3% every year. This is just not a linear OR easy process!

God has told me from the very beginning that He will heal me completely (Jehovah Rapha!) and He will provide (Jehovah-Jireh!) He also promises GOOD will come to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose! I believe this with all of my heart.

My family & friends, I struggle to show how much I need your support right now but I do. I’m shaking as I write this because vulnerability is hard and not easy in our society. In January & February I struggled to get up everyday and want to be here. Recovery is so, so hard some days. But I humbly ask for your prayers and if you feel so led, your financial support for my family.

I have been medically taken care of in the absolute necessities (but not everything) and am so grateful my place of work was so supportive. I miss my patients & families, my coworkers, & my job in nursing greatly.

The funds you help provide will go to replace what we’ve used to pay for ourselves: pain relief - massages, chiropractic care, meds, TENS unit, so many counseling sessions as I’ve processed the trauma of losing so many things. Therapy balls, balance board, etc. I’ve bought to use to get better. We are so behind on other medical bills now. And we are now completely without my wages as I finish recovery. I’m not sure how long that will take and my medical team doesn’t know either. I just want to feed & clothe my kids, pay our bills, and get well enough to get back to a job and life I love. I choose JOY on the journey!

Thank you for considering supporting us and for encouraging us in prayer!!