Hello, my name is Winfred Smith. I'm a 61-year-old husband, father, and proud grandfather. My wife Brenda and I have been married for 18 beautiful years. Together, we’ve raised three amazing daughters and are now blessed with two precious grandkids.

I've worked hard my entire life — since I was 14 years old. For the past 14 years, I’ve been a Senior Machine Operator at a company in Colorado that manufactures trauma devices to help others heal. Ironically, now I find myself in need of healing, support, and kindness from others — something I never thought I’d be asking for.

On October 23, 2024, our lives changed in an instant. I was rushed to the ER with unbearable back pain and couldn’t move my left leg. While waiting to be seen, my right leg also started to go numb. After an emergency MRI and CT scan, I was diagnosed with a rare and life-altering condition called Cauda Equina Syndrome.

This condition compresses the bundle of nerves at the base of the spine, leading to permanent damage if not treated immediately. I was rushed into emergency spinal decompression surgery at 1 a.m. the next morning.

Since then, I’ve endured:

Four hospital stays

Three rehabilitation centers

Countless hours of physical therapy

And came close to losing my life — twice.

Thanks to God’s grace, I can now walk a little with a walker. But I remain numb from the waist down and have no control over my bladder or bowels. Every day is a challenge, but I’m fighting with everything I have — for Brenda, our girls, our grandkids, and myself.

We are now reaching out — humbly and vulnerably — because we need help.

What we’re asking for:

A mobility scooter so I can safely get around: $2,300

A scooter carrier for the back of my wife’s car: $600

Bathroom renovations to convert our tub into a walk-in shower, so I can bathe safely and with dignity: $15,000+

This has been one of the hardest seasons of our lives. We were preparing for retirement — not for this. We’ve always been the ones helping others. Asking for help does not come easy, but we are learning that it’s okay to lean on community.

If you feel led to give, any amount — no matter how small — will help us afford the equipment and home adjustments I need for daily living and continued recovery.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for reading our story, for caring, and for helping us get through one day at a time.

God bless you,

Winfred & Brenda Smith