Healing For Jenny
Donation protected
On October 26th Jenny fell down some stairs which "initially" completely paralyzed her from the neck down.
Jenny's surgeon tells us that she has the potential for a full recovery, but that it could take 12 to 24 months of specialized therapy.
With the help of specialized spinal injury therapists and a lot of hard work, Jenny must retrain her brain to talk to her body and relearn the movement of her limbs.
We love Jenny and want to make sure she gets the best therapists and treatment possible for her healing to be full and complete!
In Jenny's own words:
... it was a fall that most of you would have stood up from and walked away with a slightly sore neck. Unfortunately for me, when I fell I had four bulging discs in my neck that compressed my spinal cord. The next day I woke up in surgical ICU paralyzed from the neck down. Shortly thereafter, I was headed into surgery. When I came out of surgery my surgeon was very optimistic and told me that the surgery was a success and that I had the potential for a full recovery. What my new normal is, will be determined by how hard I work on my therapy and how my body decides to respond. Currently, I have use of both arms but my hands are still weak. I can sit up on my own and feed myself. It's not pretty, but I can do it. LOL! My left leg has moved since day three after surgery and is much stronger than my right leg, however just this last week my right leg has started to move.
For the last 3 weeks, I have been in the best spinal cord injury rehab facility in the country. My days are full of physical therapy, occupational therapy, skills groups and meetings. They really, really, really keep me busy which is great for my spirit. I've met a lot of great people here that are in far worse condition than I’m in and we spend a lot of time encouraging each other and celebrating each of our healing improvements.
I'm completely blessed with an amazing husband, family, and friends. Kenny has been by my side while maintaining his job and making sure our boys are okay. Stone and Jesse quickly overnight became incredibly strong young men holding down the fort at home while working, going to school and visiting me. My mom Brenda and dad have been a constant support while staying nearby in their motorhome, so they can be with me just about every day. Of course, my mom has been loving me up as moms do and she does it so well! My dad adds constant humor while helping Kenny with all of my medical logistics. My beautiful sister Denise has flown up on every work break she can get to take care of me and giving me facials, cutting my hair, my nails and just being the best sister a girl could ask for. My auntie Super Bon Bon Bonnie spent three days with me this week attending all my therapies, loving me up and being my blanket. My in-laws Ron and Patty and brother Ean have also visited often, spending time loving and supporting me. My brother Sean and Hilda visited. He rubbed my feet and she gave me lots of kisses. Michelle Boyd, Lisa Ackerman, Debra Moss, Elijah Shannon Selby and Kristen Schonfelder have all come to visit me and give me their love and support. Also, thank you Brian and Terrie for stopping by to spread your love yesterday. I really have the greatest friends on the planet. My niece Anne swings by whenever she can and today she brought her sweet sister Bean. I can't thank these people enough because I know this is terribly hard for them to process, I love them all so much! I am truly blessed!
I'm not sure why I was chosen for this journey but it is my journey. I'm not angry and I'm not sad, I am determined to heal. For those of you who know me well, you know that I always see the glass as half-full. The way I look at it, this could have been far worse. So I'm going through this new part of my life intentionally with grace, humility, kindness, and humor. I have to say, my neck scar is pretty punk rock!
MRI Before Surgery:
MRI After Surgery:
Jenny is scheduled to be discharged from Santa Clara Valley Medical Center's Spinal Rehab Center on Dec. 6th. We will move to Monterey for a month of specialized rehab and then Jenny will go back for another month of rehab at the Santa Clara facility. In Feb 2017, we plan to continue therapy for a minimum of 12 months back home in San Luis Obispo or Santa Barbara.
Funds raised will help cover the medical expenses not covered by insurance, such as 12-24 months of spinal injury therapists, nurses, special equipment for exercise and daily mobility.
Thank you for all of your prayers and support!
Jenny's surgeon tells us that she has the potential for a full recovery, but that it could take 12 to 24 months of specialized therapy.
With the help of specialized spinal injury therapists and a lot of hard work, Jenny must retrain her brain to talk to her body and relearn the movement of her limbs.
We love Jenny and want to make sure she gets the best therapists and treatment possible for her healing to be full and complete!
In Jenny's own words:
... it was a fall that most of you would have stood up from and walked away with a slightly sore neck. Unfortunately for me, when I fell I had four bulging discs in my neck that compressed my spinal cord. The next day I woke up in surgical ICU paralyzed from the neck down. Shortly thereafter, I was headed into surgery. When I came out of surgery my surgeon was very optimistic and told me that the surgery was a success and that I had the potential for a full recovery. What my new normal is, will be determined by how hard I work on my therapy and how my body decides to respond. Currently, I have use of both arms but my hands are still weak. I can sit up on my own and feed myself. It's not pretty, but I can do it. LOL! My left leg has moved since day three after surgery and is much stronger than my right leg, however just this last week my right leg has started to move.
For the last 3 weeks, I have been in the best spinal cord injury rehab facility in the country. My days are full of physical therapy, occupational therapy, skills groups and meetings. They really, really, really keep me busy which is great for my spirit. I've met a lot of great people here that are in far worse condition than I’m in and we spend a lot of time encouraging each other and celebrating each of our healing improvements.
I'm completely blessed with an amazing husband, family, and friends. Kenny has been by my side while maintaining his job and making sure our boys are okay. Stone and Jesse quickly overnight became incredibly strong young men holding down the fort at home while working, going to school and visiting me. My mom Brenda and dad have been a constant support while staying nearby in their motorhome, so they can be with me just about every day. Of course, my mom has been loving me up as moms do and she does it so well! My dad adds constant humor while helping Kenny with all of my medical logistics. My beautiful sister Denise has flown up on every work break she can get to take care of me and giving me facials, cutting my hair, my nails and just being the best sister a girl could ask for. My auntie Super Bon Bon Bonnie spent three days with me this week attending all my therapies, loving me up and being my blanket. My in-laws Ron and Patty and brother Ean have also visited often, spending time loving and supporting me. My brother Sean and Hilda visited. He rubbed my feet and she gave me lots of kisses. Michelle Boyd, Lisa Ackerman, Debra Moss, Elijah Shannon Selby and Kristen Schonfelder have all come to visit me and give me their love and support. Also, thank you Brian and Terrie for stopping by to spread your love yesterday. I really have the greatest friends on the planet. My niece Anne swings by whenever she can and today she brought her sweet sister Bean. I can't thank these people enough because I know this is terribly hard for them to process, I love them all so much! I am truly blessed!
I'm not sure why I was chosen for this journey but it is my journey. I'm not angry and I'm not sad, I am determined to heal. For those of you who know me well, you know that I always see the glass as half-full. The way I look at it, this could have been far worse. So I'm going through this new part of my life intentionally with grace, humility, kindness, and humor. I have to say, my neck scar is pretty punk rock!
MRI Before Surgery:
MRI After Surgery:
Jenny is scheduled to be discharged from Santa Clara Valley Medical Center's Spinal Rehab Center on Dec. 6th. We will move to Monterey for a month of specialized rehab and then Jenny will go back for another month of rehab at the Santa Clara facility. In Feb 2017, we plan to continue therapy for a minimum of 12 months back home in San Luis Obispo or Santa Barbara.
Funds raised will help cover the medical expenses not covered by insurance, such as 12-24 months of spinal injury therapists, nurses, special equipment for exercise and daily mobility.
Thank you for all of your prayers and support!
Organizer and beneficiary
Jesse OReilly
Organizer
Grover Beach, CA
Kenny OReilly
Beneficiary