A southeastern Manitoba woman is sharing her experience undergoing major spinal surgery in Germany after a decades-long injury began to severely impact her life. Medical help from overseas Teena Cole says her condition stemmed from a serious car accident 36 years ago that reversed the natural curvature of her neck. “It was curved backwards instead of forwards. Over time, that started to wear down on my discs and compress my nerves,” Cole says. “In the last two years, I started to notice I was losing use of my arms and hands.” With limited treatment options locally, Cole made the decision to travel overseas for specialized care. “I chose to go to Germany. They replaced three discs in my neck and repaired the curvature of my neck. It was miraculous,” she says. Related Stories: Province announces hiring forum to boost health-care workforce Tache Fire Department visits STARS base to strengthen life-saving partnership Blood donors needed in Steinbach, 130 appointments still available Cole describes the process as highly organized from the moment she arrived. “It’s all arranged. There’s a team on site that gets you settled in, gives you the tour, admits you for the day and you’re set up.” Cole’s sister, Sue Doerksen, accompanied her as a support person, something both say was essential. “It’s a big ordeal to go, and having somebody there to help track details, listen to doctors and instructions. It was a great idea,” Cole says. Following the surgery, Cole spent a week in a rehabilitation facility, where she underwent daily physiotherapy, massage therapy and other treatments, all monitored by medical staff. “They take really great care of you,” says Cole, noting her sister was able to stay in a hotel a short walk away from the facility. A successful, but costly, procedure While the outcome has been positive, the procedure came at a significant cost. “With flights, it turned out to be $104,000.” She notes that multiple disc replacements and last-minute travel contributed to the total. To help offset expenses, Cole says the community has already shown strong support through donations, but more help is still needed. A GoFundMe page has also been set up for donations. The event is planned for April 11 at the Friedensfeld Community Centre, featuring live entertainment, desserts, a silent auction and a 50/50 draw. Tickets are available through Showpass, with additional details posted on the event’s Facebook page. Tickets will also be available at the door. With files from Corny Rempel