CatchingUp

Fundraising forJason Towner

Jason Towner

Jamestown, Colorado

$12,040 of $30,000 goal

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Fundraising forJason Towner

Medical

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Hi Family & Friends! As many of you know, 2023 has been a roller coaster, to say the least.

In January, after 25 years of experience as an electrician, I made the decision to start my own electrical company, Mountain Top Electrical. It started as good as any new company can start - a little slow at first and then started picking up.

Unfortunately in April, Gayle's job was cut from 40 hrs/wk to about 13 hrs/wk and for a while things were still going well.

Then in July, I was hospitalized after my airway was restricted down to the size a straw. I was diagnosed with Epiglottitis, a life-threatening condition that kept me in the hospital, and out of work, for about a week. I was told that my ongoing dental problems were very likely one of the main contributors, so I began working with my dentist to have all of my teeth pulled, fitted for dentures and am awaiting permanent implants once my mouth and jaw heals (early'ish next year). The dental work also kept me from working for about another week as I healed.

Now, for the latest struggle - three weeks ago I threw out my back. Unlike previous episodes, that healed on their own with time, this time it has begun radiating through my entire left leg and is making it very difficult to do anything, even walk. After a few chiropractor appointments, another ER visit, and an MRI, I am beginning the conversation with a neurosurgeon to discuss what my next steps will need to be, including potential surgery. In the meantime, and by doctors orders, I can not work.

As much as we wish we didn't have to, we need some help to pay my medical bills, pay down our maxed out credit cards, and try to have a little bit of a Christmas for our 3 boys ages 10, 13 & 15.

Thank you all for taking the time to read this all the way through and contributing if you're in a place to be able to. Please know we will do all we can to pay it forward in the future.

Love,

Jason (& Gayle) Towner

Fundraiser Updates (2)

April 04, 2024

Jason Towner, Organizer

Hi All!

We know it's been a while since our last update, so we wanted to let you all know what's happened in the last few months.

After additional visits with his neurosurgeon, it was decided that back surgery would be the best next step. Surgery was done this past Friday (March 29) and the results were different than expected. Instead of a disc herniation as expected, a tumor was discovered growing from the nerve. The doctor has repeatedly used the word benign, but sent a sample to pathology to be certain. Because of the placement of the tumor, the doctor recommended not removing it because it could permanently damage the nerve and cause loss of function to the left leg. The surgeon was able to decompress some of the affected space by shaving some bone around the tumor.

Jason is home recovering with the aid of a walker, pain medication, and help from family and friends, but unfortunately hasn't received too much relief just yet. We have a post-op follow up next Thursday (April 11) and will discuss results and next steps then, which could include additional surgeries.

This continues to be a long, painful battle but we continue to keep trust and faith that the doctors will find the appropriate course of treatment.

In order to care for Jason during recovery, Gayle made the difficult decision to resign from WeightWatchers. She is still pulling in a good amount of hours, working from home, with her other job and will continue the full-time job search once Jason has recovered more.

We will post again after the post-op visit when we will hopefully have next steps.

Thank you everyone for keeping Jason and our family in your thoughts and prayers.

Love always,

Jason & Gayle.

January 02, 2024

Jason Towner, Organizer

Happy New Year Everyone,

The words "thank you" don't seem like nearly enough for all the love and support we've received since originally posting, but it's all we can come up with right now. To those who have been able to donate, share our story, and/or contacted us with well wishes we are truly grateful. The donations we received so far allowed us to have a nice Christmas, pay some much overdue bills, and generally breathe while we wait to see what's next.

We don't have too much of an update yet, but Jason's latest MRI has come back and is showing that he has an extruded bottom disk and that pieces have broken off into his nerve canal which is causing the majority of the pain and issues. He has an appointment set with a neurosurgeon to discuss next steps on January 8th. We will hopefully know more after that appointment.

A little bit of good news - Gayle has started a second job that, for now, is temporary but should provide steady work for at least the next three months or so. This should help subsidize the hours that were cut early last year, at least a little.

Again, thank you to everyone who has shown us support. We're by no means out of the woods yet, but with the loving help from our family and friends we know that we can and will get through this tough time.

All our love,

Jason & Gayle.