Tien's spinal cord injury rehab

Last year our family spent Thanksgiving in Pensacola Florida. My husband, Tien, was struck by Suburban at 45-50 mph while crossing the street. It was 4:30 in the afternoon, dusk. We had just completed our Thanksgiving meal and he was going to throw the footfball with our son. He got to the hospital at 6:30 and went straight to surgery. Any one of his injuries could have been life threatening, but the Lord has other plans for Tien.

Disected Aortic arch
Torn diaphram with ruptured spleen and collapsed lung. All of his abdominal contents moved into chest cavity
fractured radius/ulna requiring plates and screws.
multi ligament rupture in both knees
pelvic fractures
multiple rib fractures
and the most grave: Spinal cord injury from fracture subluxation of C1 on C2 vertabrae. These are the top 2 vertabrae in the neck.

Tien was an athlete: mountain biker (rode the Leadville 100 mountain bike race in 2014) extreme skier, lover of all sports. Ironically, he and I are both physical therapists. We have spent our adult lives helping others recover from injuries. Our family story and his recovery can be found in more detail on his Facebook page:

"Pray for Tien" https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pray-for-Tien/891523117554794

We have found great hope and gratitude for survival and recovery through faith and prayer. Tien spent 3 weeks in ICU at University of Alabama Hospital followed by 4 months as an in-patient at Craig rehab Hospital. He has had 10 surgeries thus far. He has been attending outpatient therapy making gains in strength and function. He is postitive and motivated beyond belief! His therapists feel that he is a good candidate for the NeuroRecovery Network program. It is an intensive 5 days per week 3 hours per day rehab program that is part of a greater nationwide study that has outstanding results in strength and functional improvements. More information can be found about the program on the Christopher Reeves foundation website. Here is a link to their page:

http://www.christopherreeve.org/site/c.ddJFKRNoFiG/b.5399929/k.6F37/NeuroRecovery_Network.htm

Currently my husband is confined to a motorized wheelchair and requires help from a daily certified nursing assistant. He requires assistance to eat, dress and bath. It is our goal that through the NRN program he may regain greater function, independence and quality of life. We have seen many other patients go through the program, starting with less functional ability than him, and come out walking and using their arms. Some how, some way, we will find a way to send him through this program. It is our greatest chance at restoring Tien to a more independent life.

Unfortunately the motorist that hit him was very poorly insured. Our PT and OT benefits have been exhausted for the year and we are currently incurring rehab expenses of $6,000/month. The NRN program will cost somewhere in the range of 70-80K. The estimated cost is $700-1000/day, 5x/wk for 60-100 visits total over a 3-5 month period. It will also require an attendant to accompany him to assist with personal needs between sessions and eating lunch. We have 2 children in college and have lost the income that my husband generated. Financially we are not in a position where I can quit working to accompany him to his daily rehab sessions. As a physical therapist, I have devoted countless hours of my own toward his rehabilitation, however, I do not have the expertise in this area of specialty or access to the equipment necessary to employ the rehab standards of the NRN program. There are multiple success stories from this program on the Christopher Reeves Foundation website. Somehow, someway, we will find a way to send Tien through this program. Any and all donations, big and small are so very gratefully appreciated.