My name is Stephen Alley. I am a U.S. Army veteran with three combat tours in Iraq and two in Afghanistan. After years of service and sacrifice, I am now fighting a personal battle against degenerative disc disease and chronic pain. I am reaching out for support to restore my health, independence, and ability to enjoy life with my family.

🏥 The Challenge

On my second tour in Afghanistan in 2012, my spine collapsed. I was medevaced from Kandahar to Landstuhl, Germany, then to Brook Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas, and finally to Fort Carson, Colorado, before returning to my family in Denver. There, I was diagnosed with Degenerative Disc Disease. My C-4, C-5, C-6, and C-7 vertebrae needed to be fused, as well as my L-4, L-5, and S-1.

I underwent a lumbar fusion first, both anterior and posterior, leaving scars on my back and from my belly button to my pelvic line. After eight months of recovery and relearning to walk, I had my cervical fusion, again both anterior and posterior, leaving scars on the back and front of my neck. Six months later, I was discharged, but I have lived in daily pain ever since.

On April 8th, 2025, I underwent another spinal fusion to connect L-3 to L-4 through S-1. Despite these surgeries, the pain persists and my mobility is limited.

🌟 Discovering Hope

Living with a degenerative disease means facing the prospect of more surgeries and the possibility that my entire spine will one day be fused with two rods nearly two feet long. I want to change that future. I am seeking advanced treatment in hopes of avoiding further pain and surgeries, preserving my mobility, and regaining the ability to jog, run, sprint, and play with my grandchildren.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Service & Sacrifice

I joined the Army in 2000 and served until 2015, with jobs in Artillery, Infantry tactics, and Information Operations. My service took me across the world, but nothing could prepare me for the toll that chronic pain and repeated surgeries would take on my daily life. Simple activities like jogging, running, jumping, or even lifting more than 10 pounds are now out of reach.

My greatest wish is to reclaim my health so I can be active with my family and enjoy life’s everyday moments.

💰 The Financial Reality

After years of medical procedures and ongoing pain, resources are stretched thin. The cost of advanced treatments to slow or stop the progression of my disease is beyond what I can manage alone. Every day I live with pain and the looming possibility of more surgeries.

Your support, through a donation or by sharing my story, will help me access the therapy I need to heal and avoid a future of constant surgeries and pain.

⏰ Why We Need Your Help

With your help, I hope to:

Avoid additional spinal fusions and chronic pain
Preserve my mobility and independence
Regain the ability to jog, run, and play with my grandchildren
Enjoy a future free from the fear of more surgeries

🙏 Gratitude and Hope

Thank you for reading my story and for considering a gift that could change my life. Every contribution, no matter the size, brings me closer to healing, renewed independence, and the ability to enjoy life with my family once again.

Support Stephen Alley's Healing Journey