Support Alex's Recovery
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We have set up this fundraiser to raise money for Alex’s recovery and to help him get back on his feet again. As a result of a major accident, Alex has sustained serious injury to his spinal cord, leaving him paralysed from the chest down, along with other complications that come with paralysis.
On Tuesday 16th June 2020 my fiancé, Alex Collins, who is just 21 years old, dived into a river and hit his head. At the time it was unclear exactly what injuries Alex had sustained, but he couldn’t move his body at all, so we knew it was serious.
Alex was very quickly taken to the emergency department at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, where he had an emergency MRI and CT scan. These revealed the extent of his injury and specifically that his C5 vertebra in his neck had split down the middle and was exerting pressure on his spinal cord. We were told Alex would need major and extensive surgery to help relieve this pressure and that the future was fairly unknown.
He went down to surgery the next morning and the incredible team of Neurosurgeons replaced his C5 vertebra with a bone graft from his hip. They then bolted his C4, C5 and C6 vertebrae together. Devastatingly, the surgery revealed the severity of the damage to his spinal cord and at the moment he is a Quadriplegic - meaning all four limbs are affected to some extent and the level of recovery is, at this stage, unknown.
The following two weeks saw Alex in the Intensive Care Unit, where further procedures, scans and medication were all used to control his situation and, ultimately, help him to remain in a stable condition.
Alex is now out of Intensive Care and after 2 weeks on the Neurological Rehabilitation ward in Addenbrooke’s, he has been moved to the spinal rehabilitation unit at Stoke Mandeville hospital where he is receiving amazing care and is at the very start of what will, inevitably, be an extremely long, and complex, journey towards rehabilitation.
It will be several months before Alex can return home, and even then we are unsure of the adaptions that will be needed, wherever we will be living.
His rehabilitation is going to be incredibly difficult, but is a journey that he will not be going through alone. The mental and physical challenge this will be for Alex means it is so important that we are able to be together. This is, inevitably, going to put massive financial strain on us. There will be a big loss of earnings, lots of travel costs and, potentially, accommodation costs whilst Alex is at the Spinal Unit. This is all before we even begin to think about the huge costs of items and services Alex will need in the future.
I am sure many, if not all, will agree when I say that Alex is the kindest, most selfless person I have ever met and is known, by everyone, for his incredibly kind and generous heart. He will always help others before even questioning how it might affect him. Alex is extremely hardworking and will never give up on anything until the job is done. We are so very sure this will play a massive part in his recovery. Alex was working professionally as a dancer / singer before his accident and has always loved performing; we know it is going to be a difficult adjustment for him not being able to do this anymore. He has a love for so many other activities and had recently been doing lots of woodworking and making different contraptions for people. Anyone who knows Alex will know how devastating it will be for him not to be able to do the things he loves most in the world.
I would like to thank everyone for the massive amount of support, care and well wishes given to Alex and I over this last month. It has now come to a point where I would like to ask for your help in supporting Alex’s recovery, in future care and for the things he will need moving forward. We have tried to consider as many things that will help him and after many conversations it’s become quite clear that the costs are going to be enormous. We have a target of £50,000, which we know is a massive amount of money but we really hope that people will get involved and even enjoy organising fundraising events to help get Alex back on his feet.
The money we hope to raise will be used to help adapt housing where necessary and fund a wheelchair (these are surprisingly expensive), which will be a necessity for Alex. Other costs will be in rehabilitation to try and help him regain as much independence as possible.
I know Alex would be the first person campaigning, fundraising and doing anything he could to help and support anyone so I really do hope that you are able to help him in whatever capacity you are able. However big or small, any help will make this unimaginable journey a little less difficult.
Thank you all for taking the time to read Alex’s story so far.
Sophie x
Please see link below of Alex explaining the first 6 weeks:
https://youtu.be/heYQ1vJXa1w
Follow Alex's Journey on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/alexxcollinsss/
On Tuesday 16th June 2020 my fiancé, Alex Collins, who is just 21 years old, dived into a river and hit his head. At the time it was unclear exactly what injuries Alex had sustained, but he couldn’t move his body at all, so we knew it was serious.
Alex was very quickly taken to the emergency department at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, where he had an emergency MRI and CT scan. These revealed the extent of his injury and specifically that his C5 vertebra in his neck had split down the middle and was exerting pressure on his spinal cord. We were told Alex would need major and extensive surgery to help relieve this pressure and that the future was fairly unknown.
He went down to surgery the next morning and the incredible team of Neurosurgeons replaced his C5 vertebra with a bone graft from his hip. They then bolted his C4, C5 and C6 vertebrae together. Devastatingly, the surgery revealed the severity of the damage to his spinal cord and at the moment he is a Quadriplegic - meaning all four limbs are affected to some extent and the level of recovery is, at this stage, unknown.
The following two weeks saw Alex in the Intensive Care Unit, where further procedures, scans and medication were all used to control his situation and, ultimately, help him to remain in a stable condition.
Alex is now out of Intensive Care and after 2 weeks on the Neurological Rehabilitation ward in Addenbrooke’s, he has been moved to the spinal rehabilitation unit at Stoke Mandeville hospital where he is receiving amazing care and is at the very start of what will, inevitably, be an extremely long, and complex, journey towards rehabilitation.
It will be several months before Alex can return home, and even then we are unsure of the adaptions that will be needed, wherever we will be living.
His rehabilitation is going to be incredibly difficult, but is a journey that he will not be going through alone. The mental and physical challenge this will be for Alex means it is so important that we are able to be together. This is, inevitably, going to put massive financial strain on us. There will be a big loss of earnings, lots of travel costs and, potentially, accommodation costs whilst Alex is at the Spinal Unit. This is all before we even begin to think about the huge costs of items and services Alex will need in the future.
I am sure many, if not all, will agree when I say that Alex is the kindest, most selfless person I have ever met and is known, by everyone, for his incredibly kind and generous heart. He will always help others before even questioning how it might affect him. Alex is extremely hardworking and will never give up on anything until the job is done. We are so very sure this will play a massive part in his recovery. Alex was working professionally as a dancer / singer before his accident and has always loved performing; we know it is going to be a difficult adjustment for him not being able to do this anymore. He has a love for so many other activities and had recently been doing lots of woodworking and making different contraptions for people. Anyone who knows Alex will know how devastating it will be for him not to be able to do the things he loves most in the world.
I would like to thank everyone for the massive amount of support, care and well wishes given to Alex and I over this last month. It has now come to a point where I would like to ask for your help in supporting Alex’s recovery, in future care and for the things he will need moving forward. We have tried to consider as many things that will help him and after many conversations it’s become quite clear that the costs are going to be enormous. We have a target of £50,000, which we know is a massive amount of money but we really hope that people will get involved and even enjoy organising fundraising events to help get Alex back on his feet.
The money we hope to raise will be used to help adapt housing where necessary and fund a wheelchair (these are surprisingly expensive), which will be a necessity for Alex. Other costs will be in rehabilitation to try and help him regain as much independence as possible.
I know Alex would be the first person campaigning, fundraising and doing anything he could to help and support anyone so I really do hope that you are able to help him in whatever capacity you are able. However big or small, any help will make this unimaginable journey a little less difficult.
Thank you all for taking the time to read Alex’s story so far.
Sophie x
Please see link below of Alex explaining the first 6 weeks:
https://youtu.be/heYQ1vJXa1w
Follow Alex's Journey on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/alexxcollinsss/
Organizer
Sophie Howse
Organizer
England
