Help Susan Receive Medical Equipment
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Hi everyone, thank you for visiting our page! Five years ago on March 13, 2009, my mom slipped on black ice while walking to her doctors appointment. Because she stopped herself from falling to the ground, she centrally herniated four lower discs in her back. This rare spinal cord injury resulted in Cauda Equina Syndrome, leaving my mom without any use or feeling of her lower body, including bowel and bladder functions. Because of the many emergency surgeries, the Spinal Cord Stimulator implant surgery, rehabilitation, hospital and doctor visits over these five years, the medical bills have come to a staggering two million dollars. This is where we ask for your help! Recently, my mom has been “using a specialized exercise equipment, Gyrotonic Pulley Tower Combination Unit," to help her regain muscle strength. Additionally, she needs 20 ARP Wave therapy treatments, which “relieves pain and accelerates neurological healing.” The equipment and treatments cost much more than we can afford, but it is necessary for my mom’s rehabilitation. Thank you so much for your continued prayers and support throughout my mom’s recovery!
Susan's Message:
On Friday the 13th of March, 2009, while walking into my doctor's office, I slipped on black ice. I went backwards quite far but never fell to the ground. I was sent home, despite extraordinary pain and lacking some neurological function, and was told to return Monday. That Monday, I got out of bed and fell to the ground, panicking as I had no use of my legs and was unable to feel below my belly button. I also lost bowel and bladder function. I was rushed to the Emergency Room and after an MRI, I learned I centrally herniated four lower discs in my back, which is highly unusual. Herniations typically occur to the left or right of the vertebrae. The radiologist explained I had a rare spinal cord injury resulting in Cauda Equina Syndrome. I needed emergency surgery to decompress the spinal cord, which was essentially strangled from swelling over the weekend; paralyzing me and resulting in sensory, bowel and bladder loss. After two weeks in a local hospital, I was transferred to The Shepherd Center in Atlanta, Georgia. There, doctors and rehab specialists were able to teach me how to walk again, however, my legs sustained considerable nerve damage and death, leaving me unable to walk more than a few steps at a time. Upon arriving home, I was faced with how to care for my husband and three daughters. It was profoundly challenging to learn how to maneuver life in a wheelchair and to come to the realization that I could no longer maintain working as a Rehabilitation Counselor. I felt like my life was crumbling before my very eyes! It took a few years of mourning my beloved job which required four college degrees and two national certifications, before accepting reality. Over the last five years of treatment, I have accrued nearly 2 million dollars of treatment. I require far greater physical therapy than the mere $1300 Medicare covers. I have had the wonderful opportunity of using specialized exercise equipment, Gyrotonic Pulley Tower Combination Unit, paying an hourly fee twice weekly. Slowly I am regaining muscle strength and can walk longer distances! The equipment costs $7000.00 and is way above what I can afford considering substantial bills. Owning this equipment would allow me to use it daily and continue to rehabilitate in the comfort of my home without paying the requisite $50 per session. Additionally, I need $2500 for 20 ARP Wave therapy treatments which relieves pain and accelerates neurological healing. This machine is the only one in the State of Maine and finds the origin and treats the source of the pain versus just treating the symptoms, common to most Western medicine treatments. The ARP wave system uses a bio-electric current simultaneously with active range-of-motion to significantly speed up the body's natural recuperative ability - resolving pain and physical weaknesses. Between the specialized equipment and the wave treatments, it totals a whopping $9,500! My daughter, Lizzie, encouraged me to write my story here. Asking for help is awkward for me. Until the accident, I have always been a very independent person. Now I lift up everything to God. I know that my needs are large and are not within my means and abilities to meet independently anymore. I lift this up and pray for an abundance of blessings. Thank you!
Susan's Message:
On Friday the 13th of March, 2009, while walking into my doctor's office, I slipped on black ice. I went backwards quite far but never fell to the ground. I was sent home, despite extraordinary pain and lacking some neurological function, and was told to return Monday. That Monday, I got out of bed and fell to the ground, panicking as I had no use of my legs and was unable to feel below my belly button. I also lost bowel and bladder function. I was rushed to the Emergency Room and after an MRI, I learned I centrally herniated four lower discs in my back, which is highly unusual. Herniations typically occur to the left or right of the vertebrae. The radiologist explained I had a rare spinal cord injury resulting in Cauda Equina Syndrome. I needed emergency surgery to decompress the spinal cord, which was essentially strangled from swelling over the weekend; paralyzing me and resulting in sensory, bowel and bladder loss. After two weeks in a local hospital, I was transferred to The Shepherd Center in Atlanta, Georgia. There, doctors and rehab specialists were able to teach me how to walk again, however, my legs sustained considerable nerve damage and death, leaving me unable to walk more than a few steps at a time. Upon arriving home, I was faced with how to care for my husband and three daughters. It was profoundly challenging to learn how to maneuver life in a wheelchair and to come to the realization that I could no longer maintain working as a Rehabilitation Counselor. I felt like my life was crumbling before my very eyes! It took a few years of mourning my beloved job which required four college degrees and two national certifications, before accepting reality. Over the last five years of treatment, I have accrued nearly 2 million dollars of treatment. I require far greater physical therapy than the mere $1300 Medicare covers. I have had the wonderful opportunity of using specialized exercise equipment, Gyrotonic Pulley Tower Combination Unit, paying an hourly fee twice weekly. Slowly I am regaining muscle strength and can walk longer distances! The equipment costs $7000.00 and is way above what I can afford considering substantial bills. Owning this equipment would allow me to use it daily and continue to rehabilitate in the comfort of my home without paying the requisite $50 per session. Additionally, I need $2500 for 20 ARP Wave therapy treatments which relieves pain and accelerates neurological healing. This machine is the only one in the State of Maine and finds the origin and treats the source of the pain versus just treating the symptoms, common to most Western medicine treatments. The ARP wave system uses a bio-electric current simultaneously with active range-of-motion to significantly speed up the body's natural recuperative ability - resolving pain and physical weaknesses. Between the specialized equipment and the wave treatments, it totals a whopping $9,500! My daughter, Lizzie, encouraged me to write my story here. Asking for help is awkward for me. Until the accident, I have always been a very independent person. Now I lift up everything to God. I know that my needs are large and are not within my means and abilities to meet independently anymore. I lift this up and pray for an abundance of blessings. Thank you!
Organizer
Lizzie Gaudet
Organizer
