My name is Jennifer Wade. I’m a 41-year-old paraplegic and a mother of two beautiful daughters. In 2003, I had a horse riding accident. I crushed my T-12 vertebrae and broke L1, 2, and 3. It caused a lot of damage to my spinal cord. Two years later, I found out that a Syringomyelia cyst (syrinx) had developed. It is a fluid-filled cyst within the spinal cord. This cyst expands over time, damaging the spinal cord and leading to neurological deficits. Symptoms are migraines, pain, weakness, and sensory loss. My surgeon at the time put in a spinal shunt to drain the fluid. It relieved the symptoms for a few years. In 2012, I suffered from the same symptoms again. The same surgeon put in another spinal shunt, relieving the symptoms again.
Fast forward to 2024, all of my symptoms started coming back. This time, the migraines, pain, and weakness are worse. It has been a struggle, to say the least, especially having two young daughters and being a single parent. I am very fortunate to have my mother to help on days I cannot get out of bed from the pain. I thank God every day for letting her be here.
In May of this year, 2025, my new surgeon wants to put a ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt in my brain. These shunts have longer-lasting results. The shunt works by draining the excess CSF from the brain’s ventricles (cavities) into the peritoneal cavity (abdomen), where it’s absorbed by the body.
Due to the pain, I have not been able to work a part-time job to supplement my disability. I am not able to draw a social security check for my daughters. A friend suggested I start a fundraiser to raise money to cover my surgery co-pays, a rental car to get to the hospital, and child care for my daughters while I am at the hospital. The hospital is an hour’s drive, one way, from my house.
If you are able to help, it is greatly appreciated! This past year has been difficult. Thank you in advance to anyone who reads this and/or helps. God bless you!!
Surgery is on June 23rd, 2025
Co-pay is $290
Rental car is $185
