Updated 11/3/21 - Day of surgery

Hi everyone. First of all the suppose has been amazing. Thank you everyone so much. Tyler has been having to deal with an emotional me on many levels lately. The biggest one is the turn our of loved ones and even a stranger and an anonymous. It's gotten me super grateful and super emotional. Thank you all so much for being able to help, loving us so much to help and just carjng! I love I feel puts tears in my eyes, it truly does. I've thought about making a video but no one wants to see a blubbering Jonny P. You can see that in person!

So anyways, the info! I got to Luther Hospital at 6am. The surgery went well. It was at 730 and we started almost right on time. Everyone was super gentle, professional and explained everything to me and called Tyler everytime I moved a room. Oh! They give you a code to look up  on a screen. The code is where I am in surgery (prep, in the room, recovering). She it's like a screen flight info in it. It was cool (they were super safe with protecting our privacy, FYI). The hospital bands even had a QR code to be scanned so I wasn't confused with anyone else. After St. Croix, the Cleveland Clinic is like 50 years in the future! 

Dr. Amps is skeptical on me leaving the 27th but we are going to work on recovery and that's it. I have a 10lb weight limit until December 16. When I go back in St. Croix I do get to have a video appointment when it is due. I have 2 more before I leave. Maybe 3. No bending. I get bathed for the next 6 weeks, which I very much approve of! I was skeptical of the recovery meds they gave me, more ibprofen. Luckily I have some solid meds here. Meds are expensive here that's so fucking sure! More expensive than home if you can imagine that!

I am adding 2 pictures of my back after surgery so only view them here if you want. I even uploaded some pretty crappy pics of my MRI so maybe you can see the injury better with some explanation. 

I'm not sure if this made sense. It's been almost 10 hours post surgery and I wanted to make an update. Thank you everyone! I feel so human when we care about each other. One love! 

Updated 10/29/21

Today at the pre-op appointment we learned I am in pretty great health. I really am just a broken bear. We also learned that they take blood here like angels. I've had some bad experiences at home and today really put my mind at ease to how gentle and what great care I am going to be here in Cleveland. Tyler has been at each appointment and I am continuing to be excited more than scared. We will see how I do when it gets closer. I still don't know the price of anything. I see my MAP comes up as out of state Medicare, and I haven't paid anything yet. So I am even more nervous of what this is going to cost me. 

I also did learn I do not need to stop taking my Delta-8 gummies! Which is huge news! Delta-8 comes from THC in cannabis. When I started taking it , it put all my opiates on the shelf and my anti-inflammatories. So being able to take that up to the day I have surgery is excellent news! 

Please learn about Delta-8 for yourself or loved ones. It stopped 6 total medications for me. I bet it can help you too! 

Updated 10/28/21 - - Introduction

Hey everyone! It's Jonny P.!
By now you PROBABLY know I have some back issues I've been dealing with the last 5 years.
My L4 disc has been on nerves in my spine for years. My right leg went numb in 2016 and my physical health has varied from okay, to freaking horrible!

I've missed months of work, I have missed weeks of work. Keeping up with my farm and my life is a daily struggle. I have forgotten what it is like not to be in pain. 

I've been to all the specialists in St.Croix (3). I've had an epidural done on island and cortisone shots. The shots provided some temporary relief but nothing I would call successful. I decided to see a spine specialist while visiting my mom in Cleveland, Ohio. This doctor said there is an 85% chance he can get me out of pain! A chance I need to take!
They are fast tracking me and I get surgery this Wednesday November 3!
My recovery will take 6 weeks. 4 of which I remain in Ohio.
My MAP insurance I have in the islands is not accepted here. So I'm going in with no insurance.
It's going to cost me about $10,000 just to make ends meet while I am here. Between paying rent here, the rental car and surviving here, while paying my mortgage and bills at home. Not only for November but for December as well, since I  will not be cleared for work until mid-December.

We are in a real hard place right now and I have swallowed my pride and I am asking for help.
I have setup Venmo, PayPal and now Fundrazr (no fees compared to GoFundMe) and asking any of my family, friends, acquaintances and even strangers for help.
This DOES NOT include any of the surgery or doctor appointments. I am still to find out what this is all going to cost me.

You will be helping us survive while taking on these massive bills that will be coming in. You will be saving us! Reducing my work load the last 5 years has let us get by but we have little saved. 

The total will be updated when the estimates come rolling in. 
I am so excited and so scared. It's been so long since I have felt good and enjoyed my life on a physical aspect.

They are going to shave my spine to get to my L4 vertebrae. Then they are going to shave the disc that is pressing on my nerves. Recovery takes 6 weeks. During that time no bending, lifting, short walks and all rest. There is a chance of infection and there is a chance that the rest of the disc could slip to the recently cleared area.

During this time I will be experiencing spinal fluid leakage and Tyler will have to be cleaning me and making sure I am free of infection. Recovery and nursing will be both our full time jobs during this time. 

 We both greatly appreciate the time you took to read this. I am going to try and get pictures of my MRI on here so I can share the pictures of my injury and show what they are doing.

Thank you so much for your love and your support!