Keep Moving Forward

My name is Gabrielle, long story short, March 16, 2013, I learned the true meaning of "in the blink of an eye" I was in a single motor vehicle car accident which resulted in me sustaining a spinal cord injury at my C6 vertebrae resulting in complete paralysis from my collarbones down and effected my hands. I'm here on Gofundme trying to raise enough money to purchase a power wheelchair. Since I do not have the use of my hands I cannot use a manual wheelchair and because of the paralysis of my torso I can't hold myself up in a manual. A power wheelchair will allow me to not require the assistance of another person to push me around and will let me control when and where I want to go. It will allow me more independence. I will gain more control back in my life.I didn't have much but I had enough and to be honest I didn't really need much. I was happy with what I had. Finding out that previous October, I was overwhelmed in the joys of becoming a new mother. A new life starting its journey inside of me. I couldn't be happier. Immersed in my schoolwork I was studying wildlife management to become a wildlife biologist and adventure sports to be a licensed guide. As you can probably guess by my choice of studies, I absolutely love the great outdoors. I was an avid hiker, camper, swimmer, Fisher, anything outdoors really. I'd rather get down all nit and gritty in the dirt than go to the city any day. I love being outside in the wild, listening to the wind dance through the treetops, the love songs of birds that echo around me, the steady stream trickle nearby or the roar of a raging river. I love the smell of dry leaves crunching under foot in the air when the rain is coming. I love the little light show the fireflies in a field while cricket sing-along in the millions of stars floating across the sky. I love seeing the tracks left behind from the animals I just passed through moments before I do… I love it all. (Sorry about that, I kind of got lost in my own little world.)At the time of the accident I was seven months pregnant but there is no need to worry, my baby survived and is healthier than ever. The force and trauma of the accident, to everyone's surprise, did not harm my baby nor induce labor. Due to the collapsed long I sustained in the injury the doctors feared I would not be able to breathe for the both of us. So five days later on March 21st 2013, my daughter Sophie was born. Being seven and three-quarter weeks premature she weighed only 4 pounds 4 ounces, and 17 inches long. Despite her size she was strong. She helped me keep on fighting then. Now three, she continues to help me keep on living life as full as possible. She's the only reason I'm still here. Sophie is my world.For those of you who do not know a spinal cord injury or SCI is damage to the spinal cord that causes changes in its function, either temporary or permanent. These changes translate into loss of muscle function sensation or autonomic function parts of the body. In my case, I fractured my sixth cervical vertebrae which did not completely sever my spinal cord, only grazed it. Unfortunately it was just enough trauma to affect my body. I have since been, medically speaking, quadriplegic. All doctors I spoke to never gave me a direct answer on whether or not the damage was permanent but their tones and expressions suggested the lesser of the two. But for me, I see a rather different diagnosis. For me, it's not permanent, no matter how suggestive the evidence was, it's merely temporary. It's a long, challenging road ahead of me but I will not give up. I will walk again.