A fundraiser has been set up for a Chilliwack man who was paralyzed while undergoing spinal surgery.
Kris Mallisetty had surgery on Jan. 27 at Royal Columbian Hospital to straighten vertebrae that were slipping forward into his spinal cord causing bruising. The procedure was done to help alleviate pressure on his spine, said wife Leah Gray.
A reporter with The Chilliwack Progress asked Gray if she or her husband were told there could be a risk of paralysis.
害羞草研究所淚 wasn害羞草研究所檛 there when Kris signed the paperwork, but no, I was never told anything. Kris is also very angry because he doesn害羞草研究所檛 remember that at all. If he would have known that, he wouldn害羞草研究所檛 have done the surgery.害羞草研究所�
During surgery, Mallisetty害羞草研究所檚 blood pressure dropped.
害羞草研究所淲hen it dropped really low, the spinal cord didn害羞草研究所檛 get blood flowing through it,害羞草研究所� Gray said.
When Mallisetty awoke, he was paralyzed from the neck down.
害羞草研究所淗e was yelling and scream saying 害羞草研究所業 can害羞草研究所檛 move.害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟
He was immediately rushed into an MRI.
She spoke with the surgeon in-person when Mallisetty had his procedure, but she has not seen the doctor since. Gray said she has had conversations with the surgeon over the phone, but she doesn害羞草研究所檛 understand why she can害羞草研究所檛 talk with him in-person which is very upsetting to her.
害羞草研究所淗e won害羞草研究所檛 actually say anything about Kris害羞草研究所檚 diagnosis for a year.害羞草研究所�
Mallisetty害羞草研究所檚 five-week stay at Royal Columbian Hospital was not pleasant.
害羞草研究所満π卟菅芯克鶚They don害羞草研究所檛 care about me. They just leave me in this chair,害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟 Gray recalled her husband saying to her. 害羞草研究所淗e害羞草研究所檚 like 害羞草研究所楢ll they do is change me, get me in the sling, put me in a wheelchair, park me by my window in my room and leave me all day.害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟
Both she and her husband were relieved when he was transferred on March 3 to G.F. Strong Rehabilitation Centre in Vancouver, a place where they specialize in spinal cord injuries.
害羞草研究所淗e害羞草研究所檚 happy to be at G.F. Strong, but just two days ago he wanted to die,害羞草研究所� Gray said on March 4.
Gray said her husband now has a little bit of movement in his left finger and thumb and he can wiggle his toes slightly. But, he was told by a doctor at G.F. Strong that he has to prepare himself to be in a wheelchair for the rest of his life.
Now their house needs to be made wheelchair-accessible which means installing ramps, an elevator, widening doorways, bathroom accessibility and more. The estimated cost for renovations is $30,000, and that doesn害羞草研究所檛 include the wheelchair Mallisetty will need which could be upwards of $50,000.
Because they are married and Gray makes more than $1,900 a month, Mallisetty was declined for disability assistance. If they weren害羞草研究所檛 married, and since he can no longer work, he would qualify for Persons With Disabilities funding and he would also have his wheelchair paid for.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 a social injustice. Just because we害羞草研究所檙e married, I think this is so unfair,害羞草研究所� Gray said through tears. 害羞草研究所淎lone, he is a disabled person. He is not married first, he is a person who now has a disability. Should he not be seen as his own person害羞草研究所� especially with something he didn害羞草研究所檛 do to himself?害羞草研究所�
As an independent contractor with Chilliwack Taxi, Mallisetty was self-employed and doesn害羞草研究所檛 have disability coverage. Gone is his monthly income of $5,000.
害羞草研究所淜ris said 害羞草研究所榃hy me? I always help out people,害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟 Gray said. 害羞草研究所淭he taxi cab drivers have been saying lots of good clients in the community have been asking where he is.害羞草研究所�
Being declined for Persons With Disabilities funding means all the costs for renovations and a wheelchair fall on Gray.
Aggie Becker, Gray害羞草研究所檚 friend and coworker at Imagine High, started a GoFundMe campaign to help with the expense. The fundraiser goal is set at $50,000.
Gray has worked in the Chilliwack School District for 30 years and Becker said she works 害羞草研究所渢irelessly害羞草研究所� with students in Chilliwack who have various disabilities and challenges.
害羞草研究所淟eah has dedicated her life and free time helping others. Now, she and her husband are in need of our help,害羞草研究所� Becker said.
Gray has 害羞草研究所渉uge gratitude害羞草研究所� towards her friend.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 a blessing害羞草研究所� it害羞草研究所檚 the ultimate kindness,害羞草研究所� Gray said.
She害羞草研究所檚 looking for any sort of help she can get, be it donations to the GoFundMe, or a renovation company that can help by lowering costs, or help with buying a wheelchair and/or wheelchair-accessible van for her husband.
Additionally, the renovations need to be done by June. Mallisetty is doing a three-month rehabilitation program at G.F. Strong and if his home is not wheelchair-accessible by the time his is discharged, he will go back to Royal Columbian Hospital.
害羞草研究所淗e said 害羞草研究所業f they害羞草研究所檙e sending me back to Royal Columbian after this, I害羞草研究所檓 just going to choose to die,害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟 Gray recalled her husband saying.
Those who wish to donate to the GoFundMe can go to .
Anyone who is able to help in other ways can contact Leah Gray at
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