Helping Walter Get a Quality of Life
Donation protected
Walter Lumsden needs your help! Walter is a 23-year-old young man. On August 11, 2011, Walter had a diving accident that caused catastrophic injuries to his body. Walter compressed his spine (at the C3/C4 cervical) which in turn caused a lack of oxygen to his brain. The doctors initially said that Walter would be a quadriplegic who would do no more than blink his eyes. The initial treatment plan for Walter was to leave him on a vent in his ICU until he died. We don't think so!
Walter has worked incredibly hard every day these last three years. Today Walter is able to stand for up to 30 minutes and take up to 8 steps forwards and backwards with the assistance of his private physiotherapists- again something they said he would never be able to do. Walter is able to nod and shake his head in answer to questions- again something they said he would never be able to do nor comprehend.
Unfortunately, Walter is still on a mechanical ventilator. In spite of the doctors belief that he will never be off a ventilator, Walter breathes over the machine on a regular basis. Over the last two and a half years we have paid for private physio therapists, a private occupational therapist, and a private neuropsychologist but this is not enough. Walter has excelled in all areas where we have provided private intervention- we are not permitted to provide private respiratory intervention. The services provided under the Ontario Health System are minimal. There are no facilities in Ontario that can meet Walter's needs and there are no rehabilitation facilities in Ontario that accept a patient who is on a mechanical ventilator.
Walter has been accepted by the Kindred Hospital in Pittsburg Pennsylvania, but OHIP has consistently refused to fund the treatment. They continue to say they are rehab facilities in Ontario but they are not able to provide us with a viable option. Like many Ontarians we are forced to appeal to the good will and generousity of people like you to help Walter. Walter desperately needs this rehabilitaton so that we can finally bring him home and have a quality of life beyond living in an ICU attached to a mechanical ventilator. We need to raise approximately $100,000 to cover the cost of the bed, the medical and physiotherapy intervention and the transportation costs to get Walter to Pittsburg and back.
Prior to the injury, Walter was a positive, determined young man. Walter would do anything for anybody. Walter earned all Ontario Championship for both his junior and senior football team at Lakeshore,played triple A hockey and Junior A/Junior B lacrosse. He completed his first year in the business program at Guelph University, was employed by the Township of Wainfleet for summer employment and had his own small roofing company- all at the age of 20!
Walter possesses the inner drive to do what it takes to work through this incredible challenge as long as he is provided with the opportunity! Anything that you can contribute is greatly appreciated. We will be forever grateful!
For those of you uncomfortable donating online there is a bank account set up at the TD Canada Trust (3464 6337456) and Meridian Credit Union (4478657).
Wally you are in our hearts - Stay Strong
- The Lumsden Family
Walter has worked incredibly hard every day these last three years. Today Walter is able to stand for up to 30 minutes and take up to 8 steps forwards and backwards with the assistance of his private physiotherapists- again something they said he would never be able to do. Walter is able to nod and shake his head in answer to questions- again something they said he would never be able to do nor comprehend.
Unfortunately, Walter is still on a mechanical ventilator. In spite of the doctors belief that he will never be off a ventilator, Walter breathes over the machine on a regular basis. Over the last two and a half years we have paid for private physio therapists, a private occupational therapist, and a private neuropsychologist but this is not enough. Walter has excelled in all areas where we have provided private intervention- we are not permitted to provide private respiratory intervention. The services provided under the Ontario Health System are minimal. There are no facilities in Ontario that can meet Walter's needs and there are no rehabilitation facilities in Ontario that accept a patient who is on a mechanical ventilator.
Walter has been accepted by the Kindred Hospital in Pittsburg Pennsylvania, but OHIP has consistently refused to fund the treatment. They continue to say they are rehab facilities in Ontario but they are not able to provide us with a viable option. Like many Ontarians we are forced to appeal to the good will and generousity of people like you to help Walter. Walter desperately needs this rehabilitaton so that we can finally bring him home and have a quality of life beyond living in an ICU attached to a mechanical ventilator. We need to raise approximately $100,000 to cover the cost of the bed, the medical and physiotherapy intervention and the transportation costs to get Walter to Pittsburg and back.
Prior to the injury, Walter was a positive, determined young man. Walter would do anything for anybody. Walter earned all Ontario Championship for both his junior and senior football team at Lakeshore,played triple A hockey and Junior A/Junior B lacrosse. He completed his first year in the business program at Guelph University, was employed by the Township of Wainfleet for summer employment and had his own small roofing company- all at the age of 20!
Walter possesses the inner drive to do what it takes to work through this incredible challenge as long as he is provided with the opportunity! Anything that you can contribute is greatly appreciated. We will be forever grateful!
For those of you uncomfortable donating online there is a bank account set up at the TD Canada Trust (3464 6337456) and Meridian Credit Union (4478657).
Wally you are in our hearts - Stay Strong
- The Lumsden Family
Organizer
Kate Ostryhon-Lumsden
Organizer
Welland, ON
