Elizabeth Pentecost Recovery Fund

Elizabeth Pentecost is a 15 yr old freshman at St. Pius Catholic High School in Atlanta and an alumni from Immaculate Heart of Mary School. She is a cheerleader and a lacrosse player who is adored by her friends and family.  She lives with her brother Will (14 yrs) and parents Leigh and Richard Pentecost. The Pentecosts  attend Oak Grove United Methodist Church.  We want to help Elizabeth and her family  with some very unexpected changes in their lives......

On February 17th,  Elizabeth went to school just like every other day. Her legs were hurting a bit.  I was driving the carpool that morning and I remember asking her why she was wrapping her leg in the backseat.  She said, "Oh my leg has been hurting I think it's just growing pains..."  She went on through the school day as normal and on to her daily lacrosse practice after school.  Her father picked her up after practice and she mentioned that her legs had been hurting.  Not thinking too much about it he went on as normal and they ran a few errands on the way home.  

He knew something was not right when he had to support her as she walked in to the drug store and things began to get worse as the night went on.  Hours later they went to the emergency room and by 3am she was paralyzed from the waist down.  Doctors thought is was Guillain Barre Syndrome at first but within a few days and hours of testing she was diagnosed with Transverse Myelitis.  Words no parent wants to hear. 

Transverse Myelitis is an inflammation of both sides of one section of the spinal cord. This neurological disorder often damages the insulating material covering nerve cell fibers (myelin).  It interrupts the messages that the spinal cord nerves send throughout the body. This can cause pain, muscle weakness, paralysis and sensory problems.

Unfortunately, Elizabeth's case is very serious.  She just returned home after spending 50 days in the hospital.  She is now in an intense outpatient therapy program at the hospital.  Her doctors say it will be two years before Elizabeth knows the full realm of her recovery.  She is not able to return to school at this point.  Her focus is on her rehabilitation.  

Why Go Fund Me?   We want to help to alleviate some of the stressors the Pentecost Family will endure.  As friends of the family we know what they have ahead of them......

* Medical bills
* Major handicap renovation of their home (bathroom, bedroom, doorways, ramps, stair lift...)
* Cost of physical and occupational therapists
* Wheelchair accesible van
* Other unexpected bills headed their way

The Pentecosts have looked at their options and have decided to stay in their current home  in the neighborhood they love. There is no bedroom on the first floor and only a 1/2 bath with a door too narrow  for a wheelchair to enter. They have a costly renovation planned and need to start asap. 

In order for Elizabeth to travel by vehicle she must transfer in and out of the wheelchair to the car and someone has to move the heavy and bulky chair to the trunk.  A wheelchair van would include a ramp. Elizabeth could wheel out of her house,  down a ramp,  into the accesible van and travel while staying in the wheelchair - no transfers needed! 

We appreciate anything you can do to help this wonderful family at a time when less stress equals more healing.  Knowing the Pentecosts I can say they would be first in line to do this for anyone else in their situatuon. 

Thank You and please keep Elizabeth and her family in your prayers!