Help AJ Walk Again!
Donation protected
On November 5th, 2015, 18 year-old AJ Coldiron’s life tragically changed in one moment. While driving home for a routine visit from College Station to Austin, Texas, AJ suffered a devastating car accident with an 18-wheeler following slippery road conditions from rain the night before. AJ was lucky to have survived, as the complete destruction of his severed-in-half Prius revealed. Thanks to the heroic actions of passersby and the professional rescue personnel, AJ was evacuated to Brackenridge hospital where the prognosis would be revealed: AJ had suffered spinal cord injury.
The doctors repaired AJ’s broken back and he spent days in Intensive Care before beginning therapy. The towering former Varsity Football and Basketball player now faced a grim possibility, he may never walk again. But AJ refused to accept defeat and give up. Instead, with the staunch support of his family and friends, he set out to discover new ways to heal. It became a matter of not just learning to live with spinal cord injury, but of working towards the possibility of walking again.
Adult stem cell therapy is the most promising method for treating spinal cord injury. AJ, due to his age and prior athleticism, was assessed to be an ideal candidate for stem cell therapy. Unfortunately, stem cell therapy is not covered by insurance. Through help from family and increased income generated by his deployed Army stepfather, Troy, we were able to fund much of AJ’s advanced therapies and fund the first round of stem cell therapy.
And the results from AJ’s hard work and first round of stem cell therapy are very encouraging!
· He was on the highest daily dose of morphine that could be given—and now he's completely off pain killers! We are so grateful for this
· He used to go to the ER at least once a month for infections and blood clots—both dangerous for him—but since stem cells, he hasn't been to the ER for either (it's been 5 months—we are incredibly grateful for this too)
· Before he wasn't able to move his legs—now he can do leg curls unassisted! And move his legs in the pool when doing water therapy
· He has also gained core strength so is now be able to do more advanced physical therapy that he couldn't do before receiving stem cells
Stem cell therapy and the advanced physical therapy that AJ needs is not covered by insurance. It is totally out of pocket. For a spinal cord injury, it can take several rounds of stem cell treatments in order to regain function again. Initially, we raised $40,000 through donations and from within the family. The next round of treatment will cost $30,000. AJ’s self-employed mother, Estephania, has not been able to work and tend to her business since AJ's accident due to the intense amount of care required. AJ’s stepfather even volunteered and served in Afghanistan for nine months to help fund AJ’s medical care. This is why we are asking for help. We believe AJ can have his breakthrough. People have healed from spinal cord injury using stem cells and combined physical therapy. We want AJ to have every chance to reach his goal so that this big-hearted, 19-year-old, athletic young man can walk again—perhaps even dunk a basketball again!
AJ has made tremendous progress but he still has quiet a journey ahead.
Please help by giving any amount you can; and by sharing this fundraiser. Thank you.
With so much gratitude,
AJ’s family,
#AJstrong!
The doctors repaired AJ’s broken back and he spent days in Intensive Care before beginning therapy. The towering former Varsity Football and Basketball player now faced a grim possibility, he may never walk again. But AJ refused to accept defeat and give up. Instead, with the staunch support of his family and friends, he set out to discover new ways to heal. It became a matter of not just learning to live with spinal cord injury, but of working towards the possibility of walking again.
Adult stem cell therapy is the most promising method for treating spinal cord injury. AJ, due to his age and prior athleticism, was assessed to be an ideal candidate for stem cell therapy. Unfortunately, stem cell therapy is not covered by insurance. Through help from family and increased income generated by his deployed Army stepfather, Troy, we were able to fund much of AJ’s advanced therapies and fund the first round of stem cell therapy.
And the results from AJ’s hard work and first round of stem cell therapy are very encouraging!
· He was on the highest daily dose of morphine that could be given—and now he's completely off pain killers! We are so grateful for this
· He used to go to the ER at least once a month for infections and blood clots—both dangerous for him—but since stem cells, he hasn't been to the ER for either (it's been 5 months—we are incredibly grateful for this too)
· Before he wasn't able to move his legs—now he can do leg curls unassisted! And move his legs in the pool when doing water therapy
· He has also gained core strength so is now be able to do more advanced physical therapy that he couldn't do before receiving stem cells
Stem cell therapy and the advanced physical therapy that AJ needs is not covered by insurance. It is totally out of pocket. For a spinal cord injury, it can take several rounds of stem cell treatments in order to regain function again. Initially, we raised $40,000 through donations and from within the family. The next round of treatment will cost $30,000. AJ’s self-employed mother, Estephania, has not been able to work and tend to her business since AJ's accident due to the intense amount of care required. AJ’s stepfather even volunteered and served in Afghanistan for nine months to help fund AJ’s medical care. This is why we are asking for help. We believe AJ can have his breakthrough. People have healed from spinal cord injury using stem cells and combined physical therapy. We want AJ to have every chance to reach his goal so that this big-hearted, 19-year-old, athletic young man can walk again—perhaps even dunk a basketball again!
AJ has made tremendous progress but he still has quiet a journey ahead.
Please help by giving any amount you can; and by sharing this fundraiser. Thank you.
With so much gratitude,
AJ’s family,
#AJstrong!
Organizer and beneficiary
Jennifer LeBaron
Organizer
Austin, TX
Estephania LeBaron
Beneficiary
