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Help Athena Walk Again

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My sweet vibrant almost 13 year old girl sustained an injury after what should have been a great day at Trampoline World, for her best friend's birthday. Hard to believe that just a few weeks ago she was tearing it up on swim team, rollerblading to the YMCA for practice, skateboarding, climbing trees, playing football with the boys, and everything else you expect a teenage girl to be doing. In the blink of an eye, it's all gone. It's almost like she's a toddler again, but it's not adorable this time and no one is saying ahhh and oooh!! Athena is desperately trying to stay positive and fight off feelings of depression and inadequacy, all the while trying to tolerate high levels of pain throughout her spine without medication other than Tylenol or Ibuprofen. She told her neurosurgeon and the pediatric doctors that she wants to heal not bandage or mask the problem (that's my clever girl). Her diagnosis of a Spinal Chord Injury means she is having to learn to walk again, and I'm just praying to everyone and everything that she'll recover the feeling from her waist down. I'm sure she'd hate that I'm sharing this, but imagine not being able to feel from your waist & down... now think about what that means, really.... you can't even tell when you need to go to the bathroom and you could be sitting in your own urine, etc. and not even know it, until you put your hand down and touch it. I hope none of you EVER know the pain of hearing your child cry and berate their body as they tell you how much they hate life because they have to wear a diaper at this age. It just crushed me!! Ive been through hardships myself in body and life but nothing impacts you as much as when it's your child. If I could take it into my own body for her and deal with the journey I would, BELIEVE me... in a heart beat. I hate to ask for the help, I'm much better at giving it. Unfortunately, the medical costs are building and I'm having to take off of work to be with Athena full time. Athena will be starting Physical Therapy soon and need equipment to help her walk again, stimulate her nerves, and then the long road to get feeling back in her legs, etc. With luck, she will avoid an arduous recovery wherein she will be transferred to Children's Hospital, which would encur more expenses. A therapy/service dog will be needed as well, for keeping up her spirits, but moreover for stability needs. Any help, big or small is greatly appreciated. Wishing you all love and good health.
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    Organizer

    Mary-Lenna Zigomalas
    Organizer
    Colorado Springs, CO

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