Please Help Mandy LaCombe

The current issues are in my newest update on November 20, 2023.

**Please note that approximately $3,500 was raised 3 years ago for my van repairs.

Hi! My name is Mandy LaCombe. It is so strange to me to think that I’ve now been a quadriplegic almost as long as I was able bodied. From what y’all have told me — if you’ve only know me as one or the other, it’s probably hard to envision me as the opposite of what you know. A few traits everyone says they have seen in me regardless of what stage of life they have met me is: fiercely independent, very positive, good sense of humor. It can be a double edged sword. These same traits are what have kept me from asking for help for so long. 

 

My pride and uneasiness in asking for help has been another factor I’ve been wrestling with while getting all of this information down to start a page. It’s given me time to come to terms with the fact that I cannot think of another way to solve this problem. So, this is me. Officially swallowing my pride and asking for your help! 

 

MORE BACKSTORY/INFO:

Mostly only family or family friends in Louisiana knew me in early childhood. I was active & just wanted to be like my brother and do the things I saw him do.

Just one little obstacle popped up. I was born with scoliosis and had to have 9 of my 12 thoracic vertebrae fused when I was 2 ½ years old. The doctors told my parents if I was not in a wheelchair, I would wear a back brace for the rest of my life. Following surgery, I had to lay on my back 9 months and wear a cast 1 ½ years. We were all pleasantly surprised when I found out I only had to wear a back brace 1 ½ years after I got out of my cast…. 

*Coming Home From The Shriner’s Hospital For Children in Shreveport, LA.

By Pre-K and Kindergarten, I was slowly able to add normal activities, like, riding a bike, roller skating or playing in Little League activities, etc. I was eventually able to do most activities I wanted to growing up. That’s the stage I was in when we moved to Bridge City, Texas, the summer before 2nd grade. A lot of you may remember me growing up back home. Whether it be from participating in activities together, or just hanging out in or out of school, I relish all of that time we had together in my “able body” living carefree and literally seizing the day! I looked at so many fun photographs trying to find only a few to post. I really wish I could post them all!

Many of you also knew me in college (the first time) when life still had another surprise scoliosis surgery. But despite that, still ALL OF THE FUN I HAD IN COLLEGE is what I remember most!

Most of you who will originally get this Gofundme info also knew me when a split second took my life down a totally different path following a car accident.

And, there’s some of you that only know me after I became a quadriplegic. For those of you who only know me after I was injured, I was so active before my wreck… which kind of cracks me up. When I make that comment to people that only know me as a quadriplegic, they always ask, “Just how active were you? You’re never home as it is!“ I give all of that credit to the mobility my handicap-accessible van has brought me. I know there are differences in my level of ability and participation in whatever activity it is I may be doing while I’m out and about compared to before the wreck. But my van still gives me the opportunity to be out and about and participating as much as possible. Without it, I literally go nowhere. With it, it is a total game changer to my quality of life.

 

Just as you can see from the pictures growing up... I was simply viewed as a normal, active person just like all the other kids I grew up with. I’m pretty sure most people were aware of my scoliosis and back surgery as a kid because I was so dang short. But it did not define me. I was just little bitty “Mandy.” 

 

Equally so, I refuse to let quadriplegia define me, either. I’ve always strived to be an active, productive member of society, just like everybody else! I’m not gonna lie, though, with quadriplegia, it has been a lot harder to live with and cope with on a daily basis. I’ll admit, I tend to internationalize many problems and retreat from the world or help when I need it most. Which is why most of you haven’t heard from me in years! I don’t think about or plan it. It just seems to be a reflex. Or maybe the only way I know how to cope. I’m not saying any of my thought processes are right or justified. They’ve been effected by every step of my journey — pre and post quadriplegia. I’ve definitely been in retreat mode for quite a while.

 

Life has definitely been a series of ups and downs. The last 10+ years, I guess, would come under the “downturn” category! I’ve been bedridden for the most part due to major illnesses or injury almost back to back. However, I am determined to remain resilient and undaunted regardless of the challenges that continue to come my way.  

 

In sum (for now), I have literally lived two very different lives — as an able-bodied person as well as a disabled person — and taken in the unique experiences that has come with each. One quality that has not changed from birth is being so determined (or others may say hard-headed) that I want to do everything — or as much as I can without help. Obviously, that has presented quite an interesting struggle for balance since I broke my neck and have been forced to have help daily.

 

It seems to be a constant physical and mental struggle between pride and humility. It’s tough giving up help on tasks you could do for yourself as far back as when you were a toddler…. And now so many members of my family that ARE (or have been) toddlers have helped ME do things. Again it sparks the mental struggle between supreme gratitude this little person is so loving and naturally inclined to grab something they see me trying to reach and can’t, followed by unnecessary and uninvited internal embarrassment or shame because a toddler just did what I couldn’t.

 

Given how incredibly difficult I just explained it is to ask for physical help, it is unimaginably more difficult for me to ask for financial help. However, the stakes and ramifications for me not getting the help I need are too high for me not to ask. So, THANK YOU for taking the time to read about my story! If you feel you would like to contribute, THANK YOU!!! No amount is too small!! Just as it takes every drop of water to fill up a bucket! I know every single donation, every single dollar, every single time my info/story is passed along to someone new, will ultimately add up to enough to cover my needs.

 

Lastly, if you know anyone else that might be interested in reading this Gofundme page, please pass this along!! Updates to come!