The Fields-Hatfield Family

Dear Friends and Family,

Life has been hard for the Fields-Hatfield Family and I know that life is hard for everyone at one point or another. I also know that we are very blessed because we have so very much to be thankful for.  For the last year and especially the last nine months, our family has managed by putting on our happy faces and trying not to let our circumstances get us down. It's been very difficult and as of late, there has been more tears than smiles. We try hard to stay positive, but it has been so very hard. Now with the holidays upon us, we are struggling to remember the reason for the season.  Christmas is not coming to our home this year. Financially we can't afford it and it honestly breaks my heart - not for me, but for our youngest daughter. We have living expenses - home, utility bills, car payments, medical bills, prescriptions. We are behind on everything and barely hanging in there. Mark has not been able to work since August because of his back and as of late, he is struggling with his Diabetes because of all the steroid injections he has been given because of his back. I am Mark's sole caregiver and with all of his appointments, now surgery, I have to be there for him.  It has, unfortunately, taken its toll on me. I am embarrassed that I am writing to you about all of this, but we could honestly use the help. The thought of worrying about all the financial burdens when I need to be worrying about Mark, it weighs very heavily on me and it takes a daily toll. We are very proud people and anyone who knows Mark knows he is a very proud Marine, my Mule. (He has more than earned that nickname) He has always been a giver - I have seen him give the last of the money in his pocket to help someone who needs a bite to eat. He has helped employees when they are struggling to make ends meet at home. He has always put everyone else first....including me and our family. Not being able to work has been more than frustrating for him.


Mark has been through so much with his back.  He had surgery in 2012 for his L-4 and L-5 discs. He did very well with the surgery and he was able to quickly get back to work. We are not going to be so lucky this time.  Mark has been dealing with this most recent back issue since December 2017. It escalated in March and it's been a long road to this point - multiple x-rays, multiple MRIs, EMG testing, physical therapy, epidural injections, facet joint injections - nothing has relieved his pain nor the numbness and pain he has in both of his legs and feet. His symptoms have continued to get worse.  He has had numerous doctor and specialist appointments - two neurosurgeons, two pain management doctors, a neurologist, an infectious disease doctor and most recently an endocrinologist, who has been helping us with Mark's diabetes. Mark's diabetes has been well maintained with oral medications since his diagnosis in 2009, but with all the steroids he has been given due to his back - his sugars have been high...so high he had to go on insulin along with this oral medications. It seems like we move a few steps forward and then something comes along and sends us sliding five miles back. We have been fighting for months with all of this and now Mark FINALLY has a surgery date.....it's our Christmas present, I guess. He will be getting a back fusion with rods and screws - it will be a very invasive surgery with a lot of pain and it will take some serious time to heal. Plus with this diabetes, the chance for infection is much greater. After waiting all this time to get to this point - now we are fighting with the insurance company to get the surgery completely covered - it seems like it is always something. Did I mention that we are fighting with his employer, who put him out on an unpaid leave without Mark's permission? And to make matters worse - Workman's Compensation started to help with the medical bills, but decided that they were not going to help because of his previous surgery even though Mark has worked all the years since that last surgery with no issues.....so we have no income coming in and the medical expenses that we have to pay for are more than mounting. Mark will endure at least a 6-8 hour long surgery , if there are no complications. He will be in a clam shell back brace for months until his vertebrae have fused together. He will wear it anytime that he is not laying down. He has been given a bone stimulation machine that he will wear for two hours a day once he is home. This is going to be a long recovery process for Mark and for our family. Mark won't be able to go back to working as a Retail Manager.  The demands of that work will be too much on his back - all the hours, the walking, the stretching, the lifting. After being a manager for over 20 years, a Marine, a husband, a Daddy to four children and a grandpa.....his back is tired and won't be able to take all the taxing it has before all of this.

I appreciate all of you who have taken the time to read about our struggles and the struggles yet to come. I know that we are blessed by all the people that love us and support us with their kind words, prayers and thoughts.  I can't thank you all enough. If you could support our family by making a donation - any amount would be so helpful or sharing it on your Facebook, etc., we would be so appreciative.

Love,

    Mary and Family