Last year Laura (Bland) Combs began to lose mobility due to a compressed spine. As this condition progressively became worse, she lost the ability to walk, the function of her hands, and, ultimately, the control of her bladder and bowels.

She was scheduled to have surgery in February to repair the spinal damage, but the unexpected loss of her job in January meant cancellation until new insurance could be secured. Using early withdrawals from her 401K savings, COBRA insurance benefits were placed at an exorbitant price, and surgery was able to proceed.

Surgery went well in late March and improvement was noted early, but an extreme infection caused the necessity for additional surgeries and an extended hospital stay, 30 total days! Followed by 30 days in a rehabilitation facility.

Laura continues to make slow progress toward total healing but remains out of work due to continued health challenges. Due to the cost, she has relinquished the COBRA insurance. She’s seeking assistance from various avenues, many that can take 3 or months to obtain.

During this waiting period, please consider giving a financial gift to help Laura meet her living expenses.