James' Medical Fund

In December of 2015, while working as a Police Officer at Mercy St. Vincent's Hospital in Toledo, Ohio I suffered  a back injury while restraining a head injured patient. The MRI showed three bulging discs and a ruptured disc.  Chiropractic treatment as well as physical therapy & water therapy has done little for me.  I have lost my position as a Police Officer (15 years of service) due to my condition, but thanks to my Chief, have been able to work as a dispatcher.  I contacted the Ohio Spinal Laser Surgery, and was told that I could be a great candidate for the treatment, but they do not take Ohio Workers Comp.   I have asked Mercy's CEO John M. Starcher for help....thinking that they would help their own, and they used the military in a recent promotional ad. I am a U.S. Air Force vet of 10 years and thought that they would welcome the chance to correct my injury.  They kindly declined.  I've lost a lot after the incident and my quality of life has deteriorated....my career, the ability to play with my grandkids, doing simple household jobs, an active lifestyle. All gone. Pain is an everyday thing.  I declined the spinal injections for pain relief and pain management due to a horrible experience as a kidney donor. I had donated a kidney and was given a spinal injection prior to the surgery and my back hurt for over a month.  Did not want that again. I was told by pain management that I was becoming a drug user because I would not take the spinal injections for pain relief; therefore, I gave up the meds. This laser surgery has a 98% satisfaction rate.  It should give me most of my life back.  My wife died of cancer a few years back, and I have tried be there for the kids and grandkids.  I have to pay others to do home repairs and simple car maintenance. There is no Police union here at Mercy to ask for help.  My lawyer told me that this is the way workers comp. works.  So without this surgery I am stuck with back pain, weight gain, and a shorter less active , more expensive life. I appreciate your time and any donations. Thanks for all of your help and support. Yours sincerely, James Ball