RC Cristner

Family and friends of RC Cristner are raising money through the nonprofit Help Hope Live to fund uninsured medical expenses associated with a catastrophic injury. RC has chosen to fund raise with Help Hope Live in part because donations are tax deductible for contributors and will only be used to cover medical and related expenses.

Mobility is more than just moving from one point to another—it is independence, autonomy, and the ability to fully engage in daily life and community. Many know of RC’s heart to be there for her community and this is an opportunity for her to get back to supporting her small, mountain town.

On August 11th, RC had additional amputation surgery called osteointegration where they remove more of the amputated femur and place a bone anchored implant into what’s left of her femur bone.

For many individuals like RC, traditional socket prosthetics present ongoing hurdles, including chronic pain, severe skin breakdown, and instability. RC had all of these and more, but continued to press on. The OPRA™ Implant System from Integrum provides a transformative alternative. By surgically anchoring a titanium implant directly into the bone. The bone anchored implant eliminates the need for a traditional prosthetic socket, providing natural weight-bearing, better biomechanical control, and significantly increased comfort.

This life-changing procedure takes place across two major surgical stages:

• Stage 1 (Fixture Implantation): The titanium fixture is implanted directly into the bone, requiring an initial healing period to allow the bone to grow into and integrate securely with the implant. This occurred August 11th in Phoenix, AZ at the Mayo Clinic where she was the first patient to have this surgery with an amazing team.

• Stage 2 (Abutment Placement & Loading): A secondary surgery, approximately 3 months later (November) connects the abutment that extends through the skin, followed by a dedicated, gradual weight-bearing protocol and specialized gait training.

Why I Need Your Help

While osseointegration is a proven, groundbreaking technology, the overall journey involves substantial out-of-pocket costs that insurance does not cover.

Your support will directly fund:

• Surgical & Hospital Out-of-Pocket Expenses: Non-covered clinical and surgeon fees across both Stage 1 and Stage 2 procedures.

• Specialized Travel & Lodging: Multiple rounds of travel to Mayo Clinic – Phoenix for follow up appointments, some requiring multiple day stays.

• Intensive Rehabilitation & Physical Therapy: Specialized post-operative physical therapy and progressive load-bearing rehabilitation to ensure proper bone health and functional walking. Unable to just go to any Physical Therapist as they must be specifically trained in the process

• Adaptive Equipment & Prosthetic Components: Essential specialized hardware and connection mechanisms compatible with the direct-skeletal fixture. There is a device called the Axor that is required to connect the prosthesis to the bone anchored implant.

How You Can Support

Because I am partnering with Help Hope Live, all donations are tax-deductible to the full extent of the law, managed by a trusted 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and held in a restricted fund specifically designated to pay for verified medical and related expenses.

Every contribution—whether a direct donation, sharing this campaign link with your network, or sending words of encouragement—brings me one step closer to a stable, pain-free, and fully mobile future.

Thank you deeply for your support, generosity, and belief in this journey.