Mike Antonacci – foot surgeries

If you’re reading this, you probably already know that I’m horizontal most of the time because sitting hurts and standing hurts. I’m fundraising expenses for a foot surgery not covered by insurance that will hopefully knock out most of my foot pain.What’s wrong with my feet and what we’ve done alreadyPrior to moving to Denver in 2017, I had what’s called a Morton’s neuroma in each foot – it’s where scar tissue builds up around one of the nerves in the ball of the foot, so walking and standing apply extra pressure to that nerve, which obviously hurts.In 2018, I had a neuroma removed from each foot. Unfortunately, the nerve embedded in the scar tissue from the surgery (a risk that I knew was possible). This is called a stump neuroma and also is painful.Since then, we’ve also found out that not only do I have a stump neuroma in each foot, I also have a normal neuroma one toe over.While orthotics and physical therapy decreased the pain a little, they were not able to decrease the pain enough for me to live a more functional life.The surgery My wife found a doctor in St. Louis who specializes in neuromas, and unfortunately, his treatments are not covered by insurance.For the stump neuroma, what he does is put a plastic cap (stent) around the end of the nerve so that it’s impossible for it to embed in scar tissue again.For the normal neuroma, he uses a cryo treatment that breaks up scar tissue without having to cut my foot open and remove that section of the nerve, which means there isn’t a risk of stump neuroma.Option one for surgery: we are going to do both of these procedures on my left foot in January. If it goes well and reduces my pain, we will do both of the procedures on my right foot later.Option two for surgery: we can get the plastic cap (stent) put on both stump neuromas i.e. both feet in Denver, and fly out to St. Louis for the cryo procedure for both feet later. This one is probably easier on me for travel because I only have to travel once.To read more about the cryo procedure, here is a page from the doctor’s website: https://feetforlife.com/surgical-solutions/cryosurgery-of-neuroma-in-st-louis-and-chesterfield/What we are fundraising Right now, we will only be fundraising for the first surgery, $8800. This covers the doctor, the surgery center, surgery center staff, the plastic cap (stent), and the cryo procedure.How does this particular medical fundraiser work?Help Hope Live prefers to pay the medical provider directly rather than funds going to me. So, what I will do this once I receive a bill, I let them know and then they pay it. If there are any expenses I need to pay upfront, I can send them my receipt after the fact and they can reimburse me.3% of donations are used to cover the admin costs of Help Hope Live. I’ve already factored this amount into the fundraising goal. They are a nonprofit and so donations are tax-deductible.