04/07/2025
LIKE TOTALLY! JOIN US MAY 3:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/as-if-5-the-final-90s-fest-tickets-1040220456387 ~USE CODE “BOBBYSWORLD” to save $20 on any ticket! As If 90s Fest has a charitable component each year where we take a portion of our alcohol proceeds and donate them to multiple Florida hospitality workers in grant form each year. This year it’s personal- Our beverage director encountered severe medical issues after the close of last year’s event, Bobby Mercier is an integral part of our team, and one of our own in North Florida hospitality. We offer him prayers as he encounters his second surgery 4/11 this Friday, and please understand when you are downing those beverages- you are taking part in his long-term capacity to heal. Read more about Bobby’s situation here and plan to join us on 90s fest for another incredible year partying in the name of Florida Industry Workers. In October Bobby Mercier suddenly lost the ability to walk unassisted. Following an in-patient hospital stay, a spinal decompression surgery (ACDF) was performed. Robert found himself needing to use a walker and electric wheelchair. After lots of in-home and outpatient PT, Bobby was able to walk again with a cane. However, his condition is increasingly deteriorating. He has met with a new orthopedic neurosurgeon who suspects there was a spinal cord injury during his initial surgery as well as a low grade astrocytoma on his spinal cord. This cannot be biopsied as he risks paralysis. The next step will be to go back in for another spinal decompression surgery and see if his symptoms improve. After this, multiple repeat MRIs will track the growth of the spinal cord tumor and radiation will follow if necessary. SECOND SURGERY 4/11
He’ll go back in from the front & place donor bone to support the previous fusion at C3/C4 and also at C6/C7. Then he’ll move me to the prone position and perform a laminectomy (bones on the back of your neck behind the vertebrae) from C3-C7, while trying to maintain at least a portion of C5. Surgery will take approx 3 hours and he will be in the hospital for “an extended stay” Possible overall complications:
- C5 Palsy (inability to lift right arm at all, and in rare cases, both arms)- can recover in typically 4-6 (sometimes months) - The additional metal in the spine could distort future MRIs but spinal cord should be able to be imagined just fine to monitor the astrocytoma.
