Help fund Sam Jenkinson to walk again
Donation protected
We are asking for donations to help support 37 yo Sam, who has been fighting for his life after being diagnosed in September this year with a very rare autoimmune disease called Neuromyelitis optica (NMO). Sam’s attack is one of the most severe ever seen in Australia and he now has lesions in his brain, brainstem and spinal cord.
Prior to his diagnosis, Sam was a healthy 37 year old from Melbourne who loved to stay active, spend time with his young children and wife and be with his mates. Sam is a great friend, a son, a brother, a husband and most importantly the best Dad to Matilda (8 years old),Tom (6 years old) and Oliver (only 7 months old). Since his diagnosis, Sam and his young family's life has been turned completely upside down and his family are kindly asking for your support to help them all through this difficult time.
It all started one day in September 2020 when Sam woke up with a headache. By that afternoon he went to hospital with pain behind his eyes and within a week he was in ICU on life support. Doctors were unsure of what was happening to Sam; the healthy guy who had walked into hospital was now paralysed from the neck down and unable to breath on his own. Sam was in a coma for a month and on a ventilator for 8 weeks. He has been diagnosed with a very rare autoimmune disease called NMO (Neuromyelitis optica), less than 200 Aussies have this condition and there is very little research and treatment for the condition here in Australia. NMO occurs when the immune system mistakes normal tissues of the central nervous system as being foreign and the immune system then attacks these tissues.
Sam’s attack is one of the most severe ever seen in Australia and he now has lesions in his brain, brainstem and spinal cord.
Sam has endured months of plasma exchanges to filter his blood, immunotherapy to completely deplete his B Cells, steroids to reduce the chance of further infection and attack and his fight is only just starting. Although he has regained some movement in his upper body, he remains paraplegic. Sam will need months if not years of immunotherapy to prevent further attacks and physiotherapy to hopefully one day walk again. The cost of medical bills for his young family have already been overwhelming. We are raising funds for Sam and his family to make their future a little less daunting. Money raised will go to the costs of clinical trials, immunotherapy treatment, physio and occupational therapy, wheelchairs and equipment Sam will need day to day, making their home wheelchair accessible and the possibility of taking Sam overseas to take part in trials for NMO.
It is Sam's dream and goal to kick the footy with his sons again and walk his daughter to school and and with your help this could be possible. Donations welcome, big and small and we thank you for your generosity during this incredibly difficult time. Ultimately we are hoping that the funds raised will help Sam walk again.
Prior to his diagnosis, Sam was a healthy 37 year old from Melbourne who loved to stay active, spend time with his young children and wife and be with his mates. Sam is a great friend, a son, a brother, a husband and most importantly the best Dad to Matilda (8 years old),Tom (6 years old) and Oliver (only 7 months old). Since his diagnosis, Sam and his young family's life has been turned completely upside down and his family are kindly asking for your support to help them all through this difficult time.It all started one day in September 2020 when Sam woke up with a headache. By that afternoon he went to hospital with pain behind his eyes and within a week he was in ICU on life support. Doctors were unsure of what was happening to Sam; the healthy guy who had walked into hospital was now paralysed from the neck down and unable to breath on his own. Sam was in a coma for a month and on a ventilator for 8 weeks. He has been diagnosed with a very rare autoimmune disease called NMO (Neuromyelitis optica), less than 200 Aussies have this condition and there is very little research and treatment for the condition here in Australia. NMO occurs when the immune system mistakes normal tissues of the central nervous system as being foreign and the immune system then attacks these tissues. Sam’s attack is one of the most severe ever seen in Australia and he now has lesions in his brain, brainstem and spinal cord.
Sam has endured months of plasma exchanges to filter his blood, immunotherapy to completely deplete his B Cells, steroids to reduce the chance of further infection and attack and his fight is only just starting. Although he has regained some movement in his upper body, he remains paraplegic. Sam will need months if not years of immunotherapy to prevent further attacks and physiotherapy to hopefully one day walk again. The cost of medical bills for his young family have already been overwhelming. We are raising funds for Sam and his family to make their future a little less daunting. Money raised will go to the costs of clinical trials, immunotherapy treatment, physio and occupational therapy, wheelchairs and equipment Sam will need day to day, making their home wheelchair accessible and the possibility of taking Sam overseas to take part in trials for NMO.
It is Sam's dream and goal to kick the footy with his sons again and walk his daughter to school and and with your help this could be possible. Donations welcome, big and small and we thank you for your generosity during this incredibly difficult time. Ultimately we are hoping that the funds raised will help Sam walk again.
Organizer and beneficiary
Claire Jenkinson
Organizer
Ashwood VIC
Lisa Kelly
Beneficiary
