
Help Grandfather's Recovery: Urgent Rehab Needed
Donation protected
Good afternoon, everyone. This is an appeal for help from any organization or individual, both within and outside the New York area, for my grandfather. He is in a New York hospital but cannot receive further treatment as he's here on a visitor's visa.
My grandfather arrived in the U.S. on October 3, 2024, to spend Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year with my aunt and cousin. On October 22, they visited a local store, and after returning home, he stayed outside to enjoy the sunlight. It was a beautiful day, but tragically, he fainted or lost consciousness, falling face down. He was rushed to the hospital, where a CT scan and MRI revealed a cervical spine fracture (C2-C7).
Quick decisions were made, and my grandfather underwent surgery to stabilize and immobilize the cervical vertebrae, relieving pressure on his spinal cord. The neurosurgeon was optimistic and believed this intervention would give him the best chance to recover.
For over five weeks, my grandfather has been in the ICU dealing with complications of his spinal cord injury, including bowel, bladder, and breathing problems. Thankfully, he can now breathe on his own and talk. There has been some improvement—he's even regained slight movement in his arms and legs. Despite this progress, he urgently needs physical therapy and rehabilitation to maximize his recovery.
We have tried to find a rehabilitation facility to accept him, but it has been incredibly challenging. The hospital is ready to discharge him, but we cannot take him home. He cannot walk, use his arms or hands, or care for himself. As much as we want to, we simply cannot manage his care at home alone.
We are asking for assistance to find a rehabilitation facility or therapy program that can provide the care he needs. My aunt is willing to travel with him for therapy. Don't hesitate to contact me with any resources, organizations, or individuals who can help.
We are deeply grateful to the hospital staff for their life-saving care. Without them, my grandfather wouldn’t be here today. But now, we fear that without proper therapy, his immobility could worsen, leading to further complications.
Organizer
Mikaella Whynter
Organizer
Brooklyn, NY