Hello, my name is Christina. Im 26 years old and i have a very rare condition called spinal turbucolois on my lumber spine. It happened 3 years ago I have just come back from a cruch mission in Asian. I came back healthy and I resumed my university schooling while working for the University greenhouse. On Sept. 16 2005 i was left alone at work and a delivery came for the greenhouse many things like sand bags, dirts and what not came. I knew i couldnt leave them out there so I tried my best to put everything away some on those bags were 80pnds and im only 5'3 and 110pnds at that time. A week later I started to notice that my back was hurting not just the normal back ache we all get but a stabbing pain on my lower spine. So i failed a report to WCB and the set me up with an MRI, they forst diagnose me with shomlars node and discatis on my lumder L5 n S1, weeks and months went by they my back pain woulnd not go away the fed me celebrex for the inflamation and tylenol 3 for the pain which caused me to gain 50pnds in just 3 months. The following year after another MRI was done on January 2006 the radiologist immediately told me to go to the hospital and get admitted. I didnt know what was going on at that time he kept saying that a specialist would explain to me what was going on when i got there. Turned out that I contacted TB and since i was a healthy young girl the TB was dormant in my body, until I injured my back at work. The TB went to my lumber spine, the infection ate away my L5, L4, S1, S2 disc. I was imediately put under emergency surgery to get samples of the infection and to clean out the affectted site. The only mistake they under estimated the fact that TB grows more when it contact with oxygen. I was in the hostipal for 2 weeks after my surgery and they sent me home with many medicine I could not afford, thank God for my family. Not even a week later I was rushed to the hospital once agian, the meds they gave ne was the wrong one not only was it wrong it caused the bacteria to grow more and it was harder to cure. They took several other X-ray, Mri, CT, and they also puntured my back with a large needdle toto get some of the abses out. Turns out that the infected bones has become so soft they were like jello. The bacteria ate away my bone. I was told tha if i made a sudden movement or even just walk sit put pressure on it that the bone would shatter leaving me paralyze all my life. So the only solution was as recommended by the top head Neuro Surgeon of UofA that I stayed on bed rest for a year or so. I was devistated I was about to put my whole life on hold. And since I have become depress my family had to decide for me, speak for me. They were so supportive and i could have not gone through with it with out them. So i was confined in the hospital for a year laying on the bed wtaching roomates after roomates go by while i was still stuck there. I had round the clock medications, they had to put a pick line on my cozz my vains would not pop up and not only that without it i was a pin ball. They also did 3 more surgery on my back there was one where they stuck a tube done my back temporally to suck the abses out coz it kept growing. My sister came to the hospital almost everyday to give me a bed bath coz she was a nurse also. My mom would bring me home cooked food coz i couldnt stand the taste of hospital food anymore, my 2 brothers kept me company most of the time. My family did everything they could to make my hospital days easier, and it would be unfair to them if I said it didnt. But really they were my pilar, they were the reason why i kept sane. God showed me that family was so important in life. In Jan 2007 i was reeleased from the hospital but to remain in bed rest, i was either to go to a facility where coma patiance stay's or I could go home. My family didnt want me to stay in that facility so they took me home. My mom quit her job to take care of me full time. We lived of with the little saving we had also with the help of my sister. I knew it was a difficult time for our family not only for me, my mom ended up with a heart condition and hi blood pressure. My 14 yrs old brother had became depress and was expelled from school for fighting. Which was not like him because he is such a nice kid. I blamed everything on myself, but i didnt want to be depress anymore. I use those things to gain strength and with the help of God i was sble to maintian my sanity, 2 months later on March I was release from my bedrest,, and was put on a calm shell brace for a while. I was horrible I havent used my body in over a year i had gained more weight due to the 20 different kinds of meds i have to take everyday and also teh TB meds they were giving me was one of the main reason i gain so much weight I am now 180pnds. Social Assistance helped me out by paying for my meds and ambulance bills whick racked up coz when i was at home every time i had to go see 10 of my doctors, i was tranported via ambulance back and fort when i was still on bed rest. May 2007 my Neuro surgen, had just taken another look at my MRI it seems that the gap on my back has not yet closed, also my bone after a year of bed rest has only clasified 30%. It was shocking, frustrating. But he wanted me to get my body moving to start gaining muscle mass agian so he recommended me to Flo a water therapies the only one in teh city. It was also the type of physio i was allowed and able to do due to my condition. I worked with Flo for months and i was getting alot better my movement was getting better and i was feeling ok agian. September 2007, i recieved a phone calll from soacial assistance stating that they would not pay for the water theraphy which has gone unpaid for 5 months which accumilated $4000 in bills. I have given them every Dr. note they could possibly get plead and applead my case. Now my only chance is to appeal to or MLA which is uner process. In the time I have gotten sick my bills sat with no insurance to cover them i have accumilated $9000 in visa for things I have needed that social assitance wont cover. My doctors stilll wont give me a release to work, my 26th B-day is coming soon on Christmas day. Yes I know I'm a Christmas baby, thats why they named me Christina. And my only wish this Christmas is to pay off my debt and for my plead with our MLA to find fundings for my physio. I have lost 3 years of my life and I want to start agian where I left of. Please if anyone out there is kind enough to help me message me back. PLease find it in your heart to help me and people like me. Coz ba things can happen to good people. Thank you so much for reading this and considering helping me. My God bless you all and have a safe and happy Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year!!!!