Spine Surgery: Have Reece's Back

I urgently need to get to Germany for disc-replacement surgery.

Two of the discs in my spine have prolapsed for a fourth time. I have had three discectomy operations since 2013 (2013, 2015, & 2017).

Unfortunately, last year, while picking up my then-two-year-old the prolapses have recurred.

ACC funded my first 3 minor surgeries, but have twice declined the disc replacement on grounds of the magic word “degenerative”

I am now in constant chronic pain and relying on a huge amount of heavy medication to prevent severe back spasms and nerve pain. I am unable to bend over to carry out day-to-day tasks such as putting on socks and unloading the washing machine and dishwasher. I cannot play with my kids the way they have grown to know and love. I struggle to sit up and stand up on my own and due to both the medication and the pain I cannot carry out my job.

Without this surgery I will end up on a medical benefit for the rest of my life.

I have had minor lower back injuries (muscle strains etc.) from as far back as 2003 (10 years old) due to caring for my brothers.

I have two older brothers who have a Muscular Dystrophy. Because of this condition, my brothers, Ryan and Blake, have never been able to develop muscle tissue properly, and therefore have never had the ability to perform day-to-day tasks and functions such as standing and walking.

This has meant that I, along with my two sisters (with whom I am a triplet), have had to care for them from a young age, including lifting them in and out of their wheelchairs, beds, bathroom, to and from the toilet, etc.

Being the only able-bodied male sibling of the family, I naturally carried out most of the physically demanding tasks involved with caring for my brothers.

There’s no doubt (or regret), that looking after my brothers from a young age had an effect on the health of my spine.

Disc Replacement Surgery is the evolution of traditional spine fusion. Unlike traditional fusion, it allows the spine to maintain movement of the vertebrae at the treated levels. This significantly reduces the overloading of levels above and below the treated level, which causes the ongoing issues that come along with spine fusion.

Germany has pioneered this method of disc-replacement and the rest of the world are starting to come on-board and recognise the research and benefits and are beginning to adopt the practice.

Germany has a purpose-built spine clinic and rehabilitation centre which are second-to-none, and their surgeons have performed over 4500 disc replacements each.

Talking to a few patients who have had this procedure, it is overwhelming at the level of relief and return of normality that this operation has given them.

I was once extremely active. Now, my daughters (6 and 3), aren’t able to play with their dad. My amazing wife doesn’t have any support around the house. And my workplace is down a project manager.

This really is my last hope of pulling together this sum of money, and my family and I are so thankful for your support.