Hi, my name is Rachael Goodwin, I’m paraplegic with neurogenic bladder & bowels. I’m fundraising for a wheelchair van. On July 16,2023 I went to the emergency room for severe pain under my right shoulder blade. They gave me a shot of muscle relaxer, it felt better and I could still walk. The next day it started hurting again. I continued to take the medication and thought I’d be better soon. By July 19, I had no feeling from below my breasts to my feet. Other than my upper body, I could only wiggle my toes on my left foot. We went back to the emergency room for 3 days, by the time they ran tests, I couldn’t move my toes so they sent me to another hospital. The next day they did surgery on my thoracic spine, removing pieces of vertebrae to release compression and cleaning the infection. Once the culture grew the Neurosurgeon saw that it was Staph that caused my paraplegia & neurogenic bladder & bowels. I didn’t qualify for social security or any other disability benefits because my husband makes a little more money for qualifying. We desperately need a wheelchair van to get me to all my Dr’s appointments. We’ve had to use Tim’s Transportation and it costs $150 and we can’t afford to continue using them. Please, please, please help.