Help Anne Rebuild Her Life After Asthma Attack

Most of you know my sister and myself. We both began riding in 1990. You have seen Anne in the show ring and watched her grow, many of you have helped from the rail, in the ring, and finding horses that suited her and her clients. Anne has dedicated her life to not only the Morgan horse yet educating families and bringing them to the breed. While living in North Carolina Anne and Rob (Bridlewood farm) ran a Morgan youth group along with an after school care program that provided child and adults alike to learn to ride and play with Morgan horses. Their training facility grew over the years and Anne enjoyed working with children so much that she decided to change her focus to children in need. She began to focus her studies on special education and moved back to Colorado. Anne was very much on her way to goal when she was struck by devastation. As many of you know Anne has asthma.

On April 20th of this year Anne had a severe asthma attack, she has controlled her asthma since she was a small child however this attack was horrible. Her breath was taken from her until her heart stopped. She went into cardiac arrest, paramedics responded and with their help her heart was started and she was intubated at the house. She was then rushed to the hospital and put on life support. Once I received the call I rushed to the hospital and stayed there for 24 days. I can't recall all that happened in those days however it was touch and go all the way. While there, many nuerologists came in to explain to us that Anne had a severe brain injury from the lack of oxygen. Many times they made us feel that we should "pull the plug" They had no idea if she would wake and even if she did what state she would be in.

On day 24 Anne woke up. It was not obvious at first all that she would have ahead of her. However, we are now months in and asking for your help!

Anne was diagnosed with a Severe Anoxic Brain Injury, Bilants Syndrome and has myoclonus. Although she spent 2 months in inpatient rehab and is still in outpatient rehab. She will be in a wheelchair and unable to walk until or if her myoclonus is reduced. Bilant's affects your vision and as she describes it, people look like a Picasso painting. She also has lost about 80% of her visual field, with the rest being spotty. Her speech has recovered better than most, although most of the time as she explains, she glitches.

Her financial situation is dire, her medical bills continue to grow and we are strained to stay on top of all of her bills. She is working so hard to regain all that she can and is hopeful to have independence. We are striving to make her home a place that she can stay with care, however, the home will need to be structured for a person in a wheelchair. She will have to continue with rehab for years, and the small wins right now are the big wins, those are the days that make all of this a little bit easier for her. She feels most comfortable and safe while at rehab as she is able to walk with assistants there.

Please if you find it within to help, even the smallest amount will take some pressure off of her and allow her to continue to focus on her future in a positive light.

Also please share this story, as one of Anne's long term goals is for everyone to know exactly what asthma can do.