Bianca's Repatriation to France

My name is Bianca, I am a 20-year old film major at the School of Visual Arts in NYC.  I have dreamed of becoming an editor since I turned 13 and just love making documentaries.  Always active, I had a side job, an internship, a boyfriend, lots of friends, a thesis project on the way and many more plans for my life.  I like skiing, ice skating, playing hockey, singing, and playing music...

On September 30, 2015, I suffered a spinal stroke and  an MRI revealed a lesion from C3 to T4 on the anterior part of my spinal cord.  As a consequence, I can no longer move any part of my body below my neck and need a respirator in order to breathe through my tracheostomy.  


My prognosis is not the brightest, yet it is too early for anyone to predict my future at this point.  SCIs (Spinal Cord Injuries) take months if not years to heal and the levels of recovery vary greatly: it could be a lot, nothing, and everything in between... Not sure what I am in for exactly except that it will be a long, challenging, and (often) painful road.

After 4 weeks at the NY Presbyterian Hospital, I was transferred to Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center in Downey, CA.  It has been six weeks now and my progress is little.  Sometimes I take a step forward only to take two backward.  Nonetheless, my insurance has asked my doctor to discharge me next week...  

Fortunately, my mom and her side of my family live in France where I can receive unlimited months of medical care in hospitals and rehab centers.  And this is obviously where I have longed to be since this has happened to me.  Lots of loved ones are waiting for me there.


Unfortunately, flying a "vent-dependent C3 quadraplegic" from California to the South of France is very, very costly and none of our insurance policies will cover it.  Many of our friends have asked how they could help us going through this tragedy.  I wish one of you had a magic wand to give me my old life back...  Or even part of it.  Or even the ability to move one hand.  Or even a day without the breathing machine...  But at least if you could help me with this, I may get closer to that.  

We are not the type to ask for help and would much rather give than  have to receive.  This time we'll be happy to accept everybody's help...

Thank you so much.