Hi, there!

Thanks for visiting my site.

My name is Angela, and I'm raising funds for my ACL reconstruction surgery rehabilitation period and recovery. This surgery comes after a year of waiting since the accident happened due to misdiagnosis, 6 months of waiting for an MRI, and COVID-19.

I am a dance artist, actress, and performer. The entire rehab period will take around 9 months, and that's only to be cleared to dance. It will take even longer for me to perform professionally again due to my current inability to keep up my dance training. I am also unable to attend acting auditions for the time being.

The amazing medical team I had constructed a new ACL out of my hamstrings, but the injury turned out to be even more serious than what the MRI initially showed. They found out during surgery I also had partial tears in my medial and lateral menisci that had to be repaired as well.

I started this fundraiser to help my family alleviate some of the cost of my recovery, including: physiotherapy 2-3x/week for a year, prescription meds, the TROM knee brace, crutches, the Cryo/Cuff ice machine, and a recumbent stationary bike.

My mother and I have both been temporarily laid off from our jobs due to the coronavirus pandemic. Thus, I am unable to claim medical assistance from my workplace. My student insurance has also already been used up from the previous year of attending physio after I got injured.

I understand during these trying times of COVID-19 that not everybody will have the resources to donate a lot. That's alright! I'm just grateful for whatever support you may bring, even if it's that one extra dollar left on your Starbucks card ;) Because every dollar counts! Please help return me to what I love most: dancing!

What happened:

I was attending a dance audition on July 24, 2019, when I landed from a jump and felt my knee buckle. It swelled up instantly. No ambulance was called because I didn't seem to be in major pain.

Once I returned home, I went to a walk-in clinic for an X-ray and ultrasound. They didn't show anything abnormal except for the swelling, which I was told would subside in two weeks' time.

Come the new school year (I majored in Dance), and I quickly realized something was very wrong with my knee. It would still buckle often, and several times I injured myself again in class. I went to a physiotherapist, and they misdiagnosed me with severe muscle loss. The next day I went to a sports medicine doctor, and they said my ACL -- the most important ligament in the knee -- was completely torn, and I needed surgery.

They requested an MRI for me, but for some reason, it was for 6 months later. I went to see some other medical professionals, and they feel there must have been some miscommunication because that is a VERY long time to wait. 

I continued to dance at school with limited range for my final year, but it was difficult to maintain a happy balance. I attended physio and the gym regularly to regain my muscle strength, but the cost has already used up all my student insurance for this matter.

After I finally got an MRI, I was told my surgeon had availability for right after I finished my last semester at school. I was just about to arrange for a surgery date when I was told that all nonessential surgeries were being cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic. 

In the months after, I found a different surgeon who is exceptionally skilled who could get me into surgery faster. After months of waiting, I finally had surgery on July 17, 2020, almost a full year since the accident. 

I would love to be able to get back to dancing and performing as soon as possible! The financial assistance will greatly help my mom and I, especially as she's the only family member I have in Canada. It is also to do justice to the wonderful work and care I received from the doctors and nurses who took care of me pre- and post-op. Infinite love to these front-line workers!

Thank you!!! <3