Sarah Gontarek, a Nanaimo registered massage therapist, is seeking public help to pay for surgery to correct an incapacitating neck injury.
Gontarek ran a successful massage therapy practice in Nanaimo before suffering an injury to her neck vertebra from chiropractic treatment that left her with a condition known as gross cervical instability of C-1, C-2, the vertebrae located directly beneath the skull. Failure of these vertebra can restrict blood flow to and from the brain and pinch nerves, which can lead to paralysis, stroke and even death.
“Basically, I could have a stroke at any given time,” Gontarek said.
Her physical condition has deteriorated in recent months to the point where the 34-year-old is now in a wheelchair because of paralysis in her right leg – her left arm is almost completely numb. Migraine headaches, dizziness, nausea and severe insomnia now make up a normal day and she relies on a rigid neck brace to prevent further injury.
“I maybe sleep like two hours in a day, in total,” Gontarek said.
Gontarek can’t work and has been forced to sell her home in Nanaimo. On Thursday, she moved to her parents’ home in Ladysmith.
It took more than two years to diagnose her condition, for which only two neurosurgeons in the world can perform the surgery, one of whom is Joel Ira Franck in Florida.
Cost of the surgery, with expenses to cover travel and accommodation, is estimated at $90,000, assuming no complications from the surgery arise.
Even after the surgery, it will be at least six months to one year before she has healed enough to allow her to go back to work.
“With all the others that have had the surgery, they’ve had success with it,” Gontarek said.
Nanaimo MLA Leonard Krog confirmed he has sent a letter of support of Gontarek’s application to the B.C. Minister of Health’s office for out-of-country medical funding. Gontarek was notified Friday (April 7) that the ministry had denied her application for funding.
Gontarek flies with her parents to Florida for her surgery, scheduled for Thursday (April 13) and has a GoFundMe account online for anyone who wishes to support her surgery and recovery.
To make a donation, please visit www.gofundme.com/sarahs-spinal-instability-surgery.