A Bed for Kelli
Donation protected
...Let me introduce you to Kelli Clarke. Kelli is a 31 year old girl with a sharp sense of humour and a passion for university football. Anyone who meets her, can’t help but smile.
Kelli has Spina bifida, a neural tube birth defect (NTD), which occurs within the first four weeks of pregnancy. The spinal column fails to develop properly resulting in varying degrees of permanent damage to the spinal cord and nervous system, including full or partial paralysis of the lower limbs. She has relied on her parents for her care her entire life and her manual wheelchair for her mobility.
Kelli’s father is Mike Clarke, one of the Team Members at the Hamilton Princess Auto, where he has worked for the past 5 years. Mike has a very dry sarcastic humour and I’m happy to say, so does Kelli. Watching them interact is pure hilarity.
Recently, Kelli had suffered a pressure ulcer, more commonly known as a bed sore. Pressure ulcers are common among patients who are unable to move because of paralysis. Sustained pressure can cut off circulation to vulnerable parts of the body, especially the skin of the buttocks, hips and heels - the affected tissue dies if it does not receive an adequate flow of blood. With Kelli having paralysis in her lower body she is unable to feel any sensation of pain, which would prompt her to ask for a change in position to relieve the pressure on her skin.
Kelli’s wound escalated to stage 4, the most severe type of ulcer. Her skin was severely damaged and the surrounding tissue began to die. Kelli developed a life threatening infection that entered her bone and was admitted into the hospital for surgery. Kelli spent several weeks recovering, at home, in a hospital bed with a special air mattress which was on loan to them.
Unfortunately, because the bed was only on loan, Kelli did have to return to her own bed and after only 2 short weeks, she contracted another pressure ulcer. This time, she has been informed by her doctor that until she can obtain the special mattress permanently, he cannot perform another surgery as this will be a reoccurring problem.
What Kelli needs to prevent this from happening again, is a special alternating pressure mattress system. This cost is not covered by benefits or any provincial funding and has been quoted at approximately $6000.
Time is of the utmost importance to Kelli right now. The longer she waits for her surgery the greater the risk she will develop another life threatening infection.
Please help us get Kelli the equipment she needs so that she can have the surgery to repair her wound and prevent her from having to go through this again in the future.
Any donation is greatly appreciated.
Kelli has Spina bifida, a neural tube birth defect (NTD), which occurs within the first four weeks of pregnancy. The spinal column fails to develop properly resulting in varying degrees of permanent damage to the spinal cord and nervous system, including full or partial paralysis of the lower limbs. She has relied on her parents for her care her entire life and her manual wheelchair for her mobility.
Kelli’s father is Mike Clarke, one of the Team Members at the Hamilton Princess Auto, where he has worked for the past 5 years. Mike has a very dry sarcastic humour and I’m happy to say, so does Kelli. Watching them interact is pure hilarity.
Recently, Kelli had suffered a pressure ulcer, more commonly known as a bed sore. Pressure ulcers are common among patients who are unable to move because of paralysis. Sustained pressure can cut off circulation to vulnerable parts of the body, especially the skin of the buttocks, hips and heels - the affected tissue dies if it does not receive an adequate flow of blood. With Kelli having paralysis in her lower body she is unable to feel any sensation of pain, which would prompt her to ask for a change in position to relieve the pressure on her skin.
Kelli’s wound escalated to stage 4, the most severe type of ulcer. Her skin was severely damaged and the surrounding tissue began to die. Kelli developed a life threatening infection that entered her bone and was admitted into the hospital for surgery. Kelli spent several weeks recovering, at home, in a hospital bed with a special air mattress which was on loan to them.
Unfortunately, because the bed was only on loan, Kelli did have to return to her own bed and after only 2 short weeks, she contracted another pressure ulcer. This time, she has been informed by her doctor that until she can obtain the special mattress permanently, he cannot perform another surgery as this will be a reoccurring problem.
What Kelli needs to prevent this from happening again, is a special alternating pressure mattress system. This cost is not covered by benefits or any provincial funding and has been quoted at approximately $6000.
Time is of the utmost importance to Kelli right now. The longer she waits for her surgery the greater the risk she will develop another life threatening infection.
Please help us get Kelli the equipment she needs so that she can have the surgery to repair her wound and prevent her from having to go through this again in the future.
Any donation is greatly appreciated.
Organizer
Chandra Heathcote
Organizer
Hamilton, ON
