Heather's Healing & Brain Injury Recovery

My name is Sue, and Heather George is one of my dearest friends. We met due to seeking out support and advice about brain injuries; my own life having been impacted by brain injuries in several ways, most recently when my husband was critically injured in an accident, and Heather's life having been impacted in an accident of her own.

The effects of brain injuries vary vastly and when Heather was injured in a car accident 11 years ago, not much was understood about the connections between whiplash, concussion, and brain injury. This delayed her diagnosis and resulted in complications that increased and compounded over time. Adding to these complications was a second car accident 2 years later: being hit by a distracted driver, Heather was left mostly bedridden. At this time, because her brain was perceiving the world like a poorly dubbed movie inside of a funhouse mirror, she required constant ear and eye protection, and was unable to read, sing, walk unaided, socialize, or even speak normally.

While brain injury awareness and research has increased in the last decade, the clinical treatments are decades behind, and many effective treatments are not covered by insurance. After utilizing local brain injury experts, it was clear that Heather needed additional expertise that is only available in one place globally: The Mind Eye Institute in Northbrook, IL.

Under the care of The Mind Eye Institute team for the last 2 years, Heather has finally been able to start rebuilding her life. Friends and family have even been able to see her eyes without dark glasses a few times in person over the last 8 weeks, something that hasn't happened in 9 years!

Unfortunately, and despite years of appeals, this vital treatment isn't covered by insurance. The visits are $3,000 every 6 months with $400-600 monthly for therapies in-between. Additionally, the promotional periods of her medical credit cards have ended and she cannot afford to pay the minimum payments for the upcoming months.

Heather has a rigorous daily therapy program, the results of which are negatively impacted by emotional and physical stress. And after suffering deep personal grief this last year with the loss of her beloved support dog, Rudy, and her father, Steve, Heather now has even more to overcome. 

We are looking for support from the community in order to at least help ease the financial aspects of her healing now, and in the years ahead.

We know times are tough for many: any amount as well as words of support make a difference.

Thank you for your consideration!