Hello friends and family of Audrey Scruggs-Johnson,

My name is Nina. I am Audrey’s cousin reaching out to you on behalf of our family in California where Audrey was born.

While you may know Audrey pictured above (middle in green) from the state of Texas, where she has made a home there for many years with husband Todd, two sons Collin & Aiden, and their grandma Lea, you may not know all that she has been up to in the last year.

Audrey had a massive stroke in June, 2024 and has been battling complications with incredible tenacity, but very real setbacks, losses and plateaus. This gofundme is raising the out of pocket cost of immediate and necessary mobility devices that would prevent further muscle and nerve damage and losses after her stroke as she is not able to rely on her legs or left upper body without them; while other injury is a part of this, our goal is to get her mobile so that she has circulation to help her whole body altogether (including vision and pain levels). Any amount will help, if you are interested in more of the story please read below and share where you can!

She and her immediate family need our help. Time is of the utmost importance with these procedures.

Since June 2024, Audrey has had to relearn speech and facial movements- she’s pushed through the painfully slow hope and patience - and she has done so- while she still works towards the bigger milestones even a year later as she is still working daily to access functional gait and some limb use. Much of the day to day is finding new normal and not opting out of the efforts no matter how frustrating the process. Through it all, Audrey has 100% perfect attendance record with all protocol and physical therapy- she is highly motivated to regain progress and reach new steps forward for herself and for her family.

The timeline has been a bit of a rollercoaster, for context: in 2023 Audrey was excited to be able to relocate her mother Lea from Arizona to be with everyone and in the care of Audrey in Texas - you see, before last summer, Audrey always managed to jump into the role of caregiver not one to accept or need assisted living- she was provider of it, many times. This stroke not only put a pause on her independent thriving to do that- but it deeply impacted the interconnectivity of her working family- thus what were safe, joyful, and gainful systems in place were all at once turned to a stop - an upside-down, and abrupt detriment.

Still, this family leans into gratitude, husband Todd was able to take off 3 months from work to be there to help Audrey get situated at home initially, which allowed the family more time to renavigate and be closer than ever. However, in January of 2025, Todd found out he would need his third spine surgery and had to take another short-term disability to get through his own recovery and physical therapy for that time (on top of still taking care of Audrey and their home). As you can imagine, the time away from his work has been difficult financially for all as a family, but Todd and they are still pushing through and grateful for each other, all in strong efforts and good spirits at this time.

Relief that offers change with the chance for hope to help Audrey is where we can come in- it wasn't like "the carpet got pulled out from under her" very truly- her feet, legs, hands and arm along with facial features stopped working. Audrey has relearned how to swallow and drink and such but needs even more therapies if she hopes to prevent further atrophies or decline. It would be crucial to her comeback and quality of life as a mother, wife, and active family participant in the community too to have further support.

I am asking that if you are in a position to help in any capacity that you share or show up for Audrey and her immediate family now. At the age of 47 she has quite a lot more to conquer, come back to, and create after all!

Covering the cost of mobility aids and medical prognosis that have taken a turn for the worst since 2024 would be a game changer and much needed lifeline.

Specifically, there are two systems of devices that will be ordered if we get the funds that will afford Audrey treatment which will facilitate her chance at walking or standing again- it has made a huge difference in trials at physical therapy for her use of control of limb sensation and reflex. The difference was walking vs not at all walking to summarize and say it simply; she is the ideal candidate for this.

At the moment, the approvals are off to her insurances, however prescriptions for this medical equipment and fittings are all pending funding, not likely covered, but ready to go when purchased - if/WHEN we reach our goal- they will be immediately allocated as part of her best advised protocol (it's a stroke recovery so sooner is better!) and Audrey will have specifically her best shot at autonomy in movement again as she and her family face the new and unknown with more hope.

The Bioness device is a functional electrical stimulation (FES) system designed to help individuals with foot drop and hand paralysis caused by neurological conditions regain movement and improve walking ability.

Audrey will need the Bioness L300 go which will include the calf cuff and thigh cuff to aid in her walking; the whole set is $9,660 and is not covered through her insurance.

She will also need a separate Bioness h200 hand rehabilitation unit for the left arm (different from the leg, it is more for movement in the forearm and hand but this will help with balance and form, without it she has no/little control or use of her left upper side). The Bioness h200 unit is an additional $5500 and is also not covered by insurance as of July 2025.

The Vivistim is an FDA breakthrough technology that uses vagus nerve stimulation during rehabilitation therapy. This will be essential to helping her regulate her body movement during and after rehabilitation therapies (studies have shown the implanted device can increase regained movement in upper limbs at a rate of 2-3 times more than that of the very vigorous physical and occupational therapy alone). The good news is that this device will likely be covered through insurance, but she will still need copays and assistance for covering occupational and physical therapy appointments. She will need many to mitigate the rest of her adjustments to the new normal.

Audrey is named after my mom, and as I catch up with her from California I can’t help but feel so limited in how to help. Should you be able to share currency and or enthusiasm for her FIGHT to regain her mobility- please share and donate what is within your means.

Innately Audrey is a fiercely independent person who prior to her more limiting disabilities, worked in assisting educators with clients and community within the demographics that are identified as children and families who have special cognitive or behavioral health needs including those needing accommodations for learning and occupational therapy. Audrey has a long history of showing up for many individuals in fact her personality along with being a mother made her very gifted and specialized for that work, but genuinely speaking- she stands up for others from the get go- and she always has a "LETS GO!" attitude towards all individuals granted any spectrum of their predisposition or faculties. Audrey has always taught others to advocate for their own resilience - doing so with compassion and respect. Today, Audrey could use that structured compassion and respect towards her own future - considering the same kind of example she typically puts out into the world- here is our chance to act in reciprocity by funding her cost of medical care and mobility devices.

PS: we are aiming BIG here for Audrey and her immediate family- we are accepting BiG love and she is already writing witty robot leg jokes so obviously- we've got to do what we can to make this happen! Send funds, send silly and also send what you can- please share this story and share in our opportunity to bring hope to this recovery from this horrible Stroke!

*Updates and inquiries, please reach out to me (Nina Taylor), many thanks and warm wishes to you and yours!