Dec. 1st benefit planned for Mike & Kim Bowers

In October 2022 Mike Bowers began experiencing severe headaches and what seemed like vertigo. He also was beginning to have panic attacks for no apparent reason. These attacks lasted for over a year. In July of 2023, Mike had a panic attack while driving his family home from a work event. After that incident, Mike quit driving for his safety and others for around six months.

Mike, and his wife Kim, live in the Wages community with their children, Sawyer, Lincoln and Phoenix. He is the Superintendent/Principal at Lone Star Schools. Their children attend Haxtun Schools and are currently in seventh, fourth and second grades.

When the symptoms didn't seem to fade, Mike went to see his local doctor. Medical staff performed routine blood work, checked for vertigo, did a brain scan and ultimately treated him for anxiety.

None of the anxiety medication helped and he was beginning to experience severe shoulder and neck pain. He was then referred to a neurologist at UC Health Neurology clinic in Greeley. In the fall he underwent a battery of blood work, scans, genetic testing and imaging.

After consultation, Mike was referred to another Doctor at UC Health Anschutz in Denver who was a movement disorder neurology specialist. There he, again, went through a battery of exams, blood work and genetic testing. It was during that visit that Mike was diagnosed with Cervical Dystonia.

According to definition from the Mayo Clinic's website, Cervical Dystonia, also sometimes called spasmodic torticollis, is a painful condition in which neck muscles contract involuntarily, causing the head to twist or turn to one side. Cervical Dystonia can also cause the head to uncontrollably tilt forward or backward. It is a rare disorder that can occur at any age, but most often occurs in middle-aged people. There is no cure for Cervical Dystonia, however, injecting botulinum toxin into the affected muscles often reduces the signs and symptoms.

On Oct. 6, 2023 Mike received his first dose of Botox from his neurologist. The treatment gave him little relief. Four days later he received a spinal tap to rule out other disorders. Over the course of the next two weeks he saw an ENT specialist, an audiologist, optometrist and genetic counselor. In November he was given another round of Botox by his doctor. This also did not give much relief.

Doctors decided to refer Mike to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. to see a movement specialist at their neurology center. In January this year, Mike met with a specialist at Mayo for a consultation. He was able to have a consultation with a neurosurgeon as well.

The neurosurgeon agreed that Mike was a candidate for a surgery called selective denervation for torticollis. Another appointment was scheduled at the Mayo Clinic to perform a procedure called muscle mapping to pinpoint which nerves in his neck were causing the torticollis.

This information was sent to his doctors at Anschutz as his insurance, Anthem, would not cover the cost of the Botox or surgery at Mayo as it was deemed out of network. This is a very rare surgery, which is why most neurologists aren't aware of the procedure.

Moving forward without surgery and minimal relief from Botox, Mike's neck is stuck to the right and down to his right shoulder. He worked from home for most of the 2023-24 school year as he wasn't able to drive nor sit in a normal chair.

His children are all very active in school, sports, music and other activities and not being able to drive has also drastically changed their lives as he's no longer able to help out nor attend any of their activities. Not being able to be a part of his family's daily life has made a huge impact on Mike as he is a very active person. Mike has worked very hard on maintaining a good, positive attitude, but his mental health is definitely a concern of his moving forward without proper treatment.

Mike began to see a new doctor in Colorado that his insurance company deemed to be in network. After multiple appointments Mike was able to see some positive results with the different techniques and higher doses of Botox. Mike was looking forward to his next appointment where the neurologist decided it was probably time to consider surgery.

Once again, Anthem insurance jumped in and decided that his new doctor was now out of network. The cost of either the selective denervation neck surgery or DBS, which is a deep brain stimulation surgery, were now off the table. The cost of both surgeries are between $90,000-$100,000 and must be paid upfront. Mike knows this is just not an option.

Mike has begun driving again and is back to work in person, part-time. Ultimately, he knows he needs surgery to give him a normal quality of life and he is doing his best to live with his current diagnosis.

Unfortunately, Cervical Dystonia is not curable, but through research, patients have been able to thrive when given the option to have either of the surgeries mentioned prior.

To help get Mike the medical treatment necessary for the best quality of life possible, friends and family have rallied around the Bowers family. An account has been set up at the Haxtun Community Federal Credit Union and a benefit is planned for Sunday, Dec. 1 at Lone Star School.

The Bowers Family benefit includes dinner from 4-6 p.m. followed by live and silent auctions and a magic show on Sunday, Dec. 1. Illusionist Dave Laflin plans to perform following the dinner and the live auction. Tickets for the dinner and show are $20 for adults and $10 for children 12 and under. Tickets for the benefit may be purchased day of at the door.

To make a donation to the Bowers Family, checks may be mailed to the Haxtun Community Federal Credit Union at P.O. Box 41, Haxtun, CO 80731 payable to Mike and/or Kim Bowers. Donations may also be made by debit or credit card by visiting http://www.haxtuncu.com, clicking on Make A Deposit and adding Mike and Kim Bowers to the Comment Area.

For more information contact Kristin Hadeen at (970) 774-7396.