*NursesBackSurgery

I've been a critical care nurse since 2018. I love my job, caring for, and educating my patients. Late 2020 I was cleaning a patient and felt a snap in my back. It was sore but I didn't know the damage that was done for a couple years. In 2022, it started being very difficult to get through my shifts without limping, then that became hard to get through shifts without crying. I had to step away from direct bedside care into an administrative role. I've been to a neurologist, pain specialist, and finally a neurospine surgeon. My spine has broken and is now sliding at L5-S1. My nerves are being pinched making it hard to be on any position more than 20 minutes or to walk more than 10 minutes. I can no longer play with my kids (I have 5 wonderful children), this breaks my heart every day. I cannot go grocery shopping, spend a day out with my mom,  or go on dates with my husband. I have lost the physical ability to do the things i love, which has kept me in a constant state of depression. I have to have 2 surgeries in December to stabilize and fixate my spine back into place. I will be out of work for at least 4 months. Like so many others, I am currently working 2 jobs to just try to stay ahead, as is my husband, and am scared financially for when I'm out of work. If anyone has even a small amount to spare, my family and I would be forever grateful.