By Jodie Symonds
MATES of Mount Evelyn’s Craig Walton are banding together to help fund-raise $60,000 for spinal surgery in Europe, and are calling on residents to lend a hand.
The 32-year-old has been waiting over 10 years for answers, following an incident at the beach with his now-wife Lauren.
Mr Walton developed degenerative disc disease of two lower discs and two disc bulges.
He was admitted to hospital, and was told surgeons could remove the bulges, but chronic fatigue and a low immune system made the surgery too risky.
A typical day for Mr Walton involves eating his breakfast lying on the floor with his golden retriever Shannon to relieve the pressure on his back; the former motor-mechanic is now unable to work and spends most of his days in bed or on the floor.
Mr Walton said he saw five out of six top neurosurgeons in Australia, but was told nothing could be done except fusing the discs together that would stop him from doing the things he loves.
He is now unable to perform simple tasks including putting on his socks.
“There are times where I think I’m doing really well, and I’ve done all of the right things, and then I’ll have an aggravation and I can be out for six months,” Mr Walton said.
An aggravation will cause massive sciatic pain that is “impossible to explain”.
“Sometimes, I can wake up in the middle of the night in pain, that’s the worst,” Mr Walton said.
A trip to see Queensland company, Sky Gen raised the idea to have artificial disc surgery in Germany.
“After all of this – being told I won’t be able to do anything and just being handed pain killers all of the time is not how I want to live my life. I’d love to be back doing the things I love,” he said.
“Watching a movie on the couch with my wife would be great – windsurfing, motorbike riding – and little things we all take for granted every day.”
When his friend Justin Berger created a GoFundMe account to help support him, Mr Walton said he was overwhelmed.
The page has so far raised about $6000.
“When you think about it, $60,000 is just a year or a bit over a year’s work, then I’ve got my whole life ahead of me so I would be silly not to do it,” he said.
To donate, visit www.gofundme.com/surgeryforcraig
