Help with Health Care costs for Zola Morris

My name is Gail Cyr. I am a registered nurse in Springfield, Missouri, I am writing you on behalf of Jackie Lawson Gates, a lifelong resident of Ottumwa, Iowa. Jackie's daughter, my friend and neighbor Zola Morris (also born in Ottumwa) was in serious car accident on June 2, 2021 on her way home from working the night shift at Burrell Behavioral Health. Zola was told that she was DOA (dead on arrival) when she arrived at Cox Medical Center in Springfield, MO. Let me give you a little background about this amazing woman. Zola had a long-time career in the Communications field and when that ended, she pursued a degree in Nursing which she obtained. She worked the night shift as an Oncology Nurse at Mercy Springfield. Being an Oncology Nurse requires much dedication and compassion, both qualities Zola possesses. She almost immediately started working on her master’s degree in Nursing. She graduated with that degree in 2017. She then started her doctorate in Nursing which she is one step away from achieving (turning in her doctoral research study). Her paper is complete and is in the editing stage. She has had to drop out of her last doctoral class due to her severe injuries.

In 2018, Zola was found to have OPLL in her cervical spine. This is calcification of the soft tissues that connect the spinal bones which results in narrowing of the Spinal cord. She underwent major spine surgery at that time. The doctors were not able to stabilize her spin due to the compression of the spinal column. She was told that if she were ever in a car accident, she would most likely die (again, she has shown her strength). Since then, she has suffered many unpleasant symptoms; lack of feelings in her fingers (this is very difficult if you are a nurse), chronic and constant headaches, pain so intense on her skin that no one could touch her. In 2021, she went to Mayo's Clinic for help. She and her son, Ethan Morris, have made several trips to Mayo's for various treatments. She cannot fly due to her previous neck injury so she can only go by ground transportation. They were able to adjust her medication schedule to reduce the frequency and severity of her headaches, provide a foot brace for her foot and the promise that they could do a spinal block to help with her chronic pain (news she got the day of her accident). Zola has received excellent care at Mayo's for her rare disease and wants to go there for her rehab where she has a dedicated group of providers. Ground transportation from Springfield to Mayo's Clinic is estimated to cost 25,000 and is essentially not covered by her insurance. As a result of this accident, Zola fractured two cervical vertebrae and injured her spinal column. The doctor at Cox Medical Center was able to stabilize her spine after the accident. This is almost a miracle since it was not able to be done during her initial surgery and may help her in her recovery. She will also have many months of recovery in which she cannot work. I am including some pictures of Zola's progress over the past two weeks. The staff at the hospital are amazed at her progress and that she is not totally paralyzed because of her injuries. This describes the woman I know that sets goals for herself and has the determination and spirit to reach those goals. Zola wants to finish her doctorate in nursing, return to her fulltime employment and continue to support her son, Ethan. Her next goal is to become and physician specializing in addictions. Please help Zola reach her most immediate goal of making it to Mayo's for rehabilitation! She will also have additional expenses due to her inability to work. Please pray for a speedy recovery if you cannot donate. Thank you!

Beneficiary is Zola Morris to provide transportation to Mayo’s Clinic for rehabilitation and assist in costs of daily living expenses until she is (literally) back on her feet.