The last several years Char has been battling endless complications from an unsuccessful rod extension surgery she received in 2010. Hardware that was installed from the failed surgery has accelerated the deterioration her lower vertebra (L-4, L-5) causing severe scoliosis and the pelvis to act detached from the spine. Recently, the misplaced hardware that was installed has been rubbing against her pelvis bone causing irreversible damage and creating large pockets of fluid. These pockets of fluid have migrated up around her back and into her lower spine. They are extremely large and uncomfortable causing severe complications that are restricting Char to mostly bed rest. The doctors tried draining out the fluid from Char's hip to provide some relief until the surgery. Much of the fluid could not be removed because of the placement and some of the fluid has come back since it was drained.
UCSF has scheduled Char for the first of two emergency spinal reconstructive surgeries on December 28th with Dr. Sig Berven. The second surgery will be about 6 months after the first. Both surgeries will be a brutal, long complicated surgeries with extensive hospital stays spanning at least two years of recovery and rehabilitation. In the first surgery, they will go in through the back and will take out the old hardware (T-4 to L-3), then remove pieces of her spine in order to get it to align straight again and then reinstall all new hardware that will fuse her spine to her pelvis. Then the second surgery, they will go in through the front. They will install a cage into the hole left from the disintegrated bones, clean out the calcification in Char's hips and spine from the hematomas and loculated fluid pockets. And also tweak the hardware from the first surgery if need be. A successful surgery will allow Char’s health to eventually stabilize but it also comes with a great cost. The doctors are predicting she will lose more mobility and independence due to the fusion, and it will have an impact on her day to day life as she knows it. Her family members will be flying out during and after the surgery in shifts to provide support for as long as they can.
The financial burden this has had and will have on Char and her family is quite significant. Being mostly bound to her bed right now, Char is not able to work much at this time. She has a person coming to her apartment to help her. With limited income, she is in need of our love and support to get her through. Please chip in as you can. Let's all help Char to rise and conquer this enormous challenge she is facing! Let's get her up-right!
The money that is raised will go towards medical expenses including: keeping Char's head above water, assistance in the home, medical bills, a new custom cushion and back for Char’s wheelchair, large durable medical equipment that will be needed, travel, lodging and all the other things that will pop up along the way.
Thank You,
Nancy Page, Friends, Family & Char
