On November 13, 2025, I was on my way to work in the ER . When the unthinkable happened. A lady ran a stop sign less than a mile from my home, causing an accident. I struck her doing around 55mph. After striking her driver side door and front fender. My truck left the left side of 340, striking a small embankment. If this wasn’t bad enough my seatbelt did not lock on impact. Causing me to tossed around in my seat and go over the center console. I also struck my head on the roof of the truck too.
Thankfully many bystanders seen the accident and came to render aid, while awaiting for Fire & EMS to arrive. I had instant pain in my mid to lower back. Once the ambulance arrived, all I asked of them, was to let me move myself. Since I was in so much pain and didn’t want anyone pulling on me. EMS transported me to the very place, just 30 minutes prior. I was driving myself . To work my 12 hour night shift.
During this visit I would find out that I had a compression fracture at L1 of 20%. They referred me to a spine surgeon at SRMH. Placed on bed rest until seen. I also had a sprained thumb and referral to a hand surgeon. In December 2025 three weeks after visiting the ER I would have more scans completed at the surgeons office. That showed the Fracture at L1 had increased from 20% to 50%.
The Surgeon was very concerned that I would have a total collapse of L1. He pushed hard for an appt at UVA Spine. After many phone calls, they finally gave me an appt the last week of December 2025. It was then determined that it was best to try Kyphoplasty (bone cement) . In an attempt to stabilize and strengthen L1. This was scheduled for January 28, 2026.
This didn’t give the results that we had hoped for. So I started 6 weeks of physical therapy. After just three weeks, I would have to stop physical therapy due to the increased pain and muscle spasms. During all this time short term disability had been paying me without any problems. The surgeon wrote me off from April until July. During this time disability started giving me trouble one paying me for a few days! Then hasn’t paid since April 6, 2026. I have sent in an appeal, just awaiting to hear back from them. As I was scheduled to switch to long term disability on May 18th. Now have to await the appeal to finish paying out the last of my short term disability payments.
This has stressed me, afraid I’m not going to have money for rent, electric truck payment etc.The issue at hand, I am still under doctor’s care. Since I still have a great deal of pain on a daily basis. While he works with pain management to come up with another plan of treatment. The new plan was to attempt injections. I had my first injections on July 31,2026. Next two injections are scheduled for August 19, 2026 and the final will be on October 1, 2026. If these all go well, then I will have an ablation done on November 16, 2026 at UVA.
Lastly if these injections and ablation does not work. Then In January 2027, during my follow up with UVA spine clinic. We will continue with the last option. Where they place metal from T12-S1. To rebuild the affected area that’s is causing the pain. However this is not a surgery that I want! As I will loose a lot of mobility in my back.
As some of you know this was the hardest thing I’ve ever done was asking for help. Normally I am the one helping others! For over 20 years I volunteered in the local community as a EMT. The bad part about car insurance claims, is that until I have finished treatment. USAA cannot pay out. Also she only had $50,000 in insurance, my bills have surpassed that already.
Thank you so much! If you cannot donate, please like and share, and prayers are always welcome.
Derrick
