Austin Somerville - Spinal Cord Injury Recovery

**Austin’s story is below with an update from 8/31/2020.** 
 Photos, more details, and regular updates can be found at the Facebook page “Pray for Austin Somerville - Spinal Injury Recovery” or at Austin Somerville CaringBridge.

           On Friday, May 15th, 2020, Austin James Somerville, 16 years old, from Greenville, S.C.,  was catastrophically injured in a tragic diving accident at a friend's swimming pool, where he was immediately paralyzed from his chest down the rest of his body as well as his hands.  He had very minimal and uncontrollable use of his arms.  He was taken to the Greenville Memorial Hospital's Emergency Room where he was discovered to be in spinal shock due to three broken cervical vertebrate in his neck (C5, C6, and C7).  Miraculously, doctors did not detect any head or brain damage and he was able to breathe on his own. He was admitted into the adult Neuro Trauma ICU.  Eleven hours later, he underwent neurosurgery to stabilize the broken cervical vertebrae in his neck and to relieve the pressure on his spinal cord.  The surgery was successful and he tolerated it well, but his state of paralysis and shock remain.
          After 13 days in ICU, Austin was transported to the Shepherd Center, a spinal cord injury rehabilitation center,  in Atlanta, G.A. for recovery and to begin rehabilitation therapy.  Amazingly, Austin has peace, yet he also has a strong determination to fight for his physical abilities through months and years of therapy.  This will be a very long road, therefore the financial cost of his necessary therapy, medical care, and medical equipment is what this GoFundMe page is for. Every gift amount is greatly appreciated! Thank you for helping Austin overcome this tragedy and live his best life!

UPDATE 8/31/2020:
           Austin and his mother, Kasie, have now been at the Shepherd Center for three months! After many weeks of striving to become medically stable and recovering from the spinal shock phase, as well as many weeks of very hard work,  Austin is now achieving a minimum of 7 hours of therapy every week day.  To see some videos, please go to the Facebook link above.
         Austin will be going into surgery to have a Baclofin Spinal Infusion Pump inserted in his body this Wednesday, 9/2/2020.  This is necessary to try to control his Neuro spams that are interfering with his physical therapies. He has chosen to have this device because it is the best chance he has to keep improving without the Neuro spams interfering with his voluntary muscle movements, which has been a significant problem.  If all goes well and on schedule,  Austin will be graduating from his present Inpatient Program on Sept. 12th! He and his mother will be moving into the apartments on site for the Day Therapy Program! This is the next level of therapy program that will be 8-12 weeks long.   He will begin that program on Sept. 14th. The cost of the Day Therapy Program is $100 a day after insurance plus the cost of food. 
          There is another program after the Day Therapy Program here at Shepherd Center where acceptance is extremely competitive,  the Beyond Therapy Program.  Please take a minute to see the video of this program at beyond-therapy.org. Medical insurance does not cover this program at all.  Austin and his mother will need to get their own apartment off campus in Atlanta and transport Austin to his therapies on weekdays. The cost is $100. an hour, therefore approximately $2000. a week. Please help Austin to be able to afford to continue his physical therapy for months to come. There is nothing he wants more than to be able to continue on this road of healing and recovery!!! You can make a priceless difference in his life. 
           THANK YOU for reading about Austin and for helping in any way you can. It is GREATLY appreciated!!!