A Helping Hand for Alma
Donation protected
Let me introduce you to Alma Gonzalez. Alma is an amazing, strong woman with an infectious smile despite the challenges she faces on a day to day basis. Alma's spirit is unparralled to any of which I have ever met in my lifetime. She is an amazing inspiration to not only her children but to anyone life that she touches.
On February 18, 2009 Alma was driving with her daughters to her new home. Suddenly, she ran over a pothole and lost control of her Ford explorer. The vehicle spun out into the gravel where it then flipped on the driver side and slid down the 2 lane road. A man who was working in the fields nearby witnessed the accident and ran to Alma's side. Her daughters made it out of the car without a scratch but Alma had been severely injured. She soon realized that her left arm was barely attached and hanging on by a piece of skin. She was helivaced to the nearest Hospital where they performed an X-ray and tests to see if they could reattach her arm. Unfortunately, the only thing that the doctors could do was to amputate her arm right above her elbow.
Despite the obstacles she faced after surgery she maintained a positive attitude towards life. She had something to live for, her daughters (and future son), and she pushed her self more and more everyday to accomplish her goals. She eventually finished school and graduated with an Associates in Medical Administration. Even though she has her degree she has continued her education in attempts to gain a Public Health Degree and maybe continue on to nursing. With that being said her goals of becoming a nurse are clouded by the fact that she does not have the necessary tools to draw blood, intubate a patient, or place an IV.
Recently Alma started the process to receive a "Myoelectric Prosthesis." She was told her insurance would cover a portion and she would have to cover 30% of the cost alone. After her most recent appointment her exictement was shattered when she was told that her insurance did not in fact cover any of this prosthetic and that she would need to pay the amount out of her pocket. Being a single mother of 3 children this is not feasible for her. Our goal here is to raise as close to the total cost of the prosthetic as possible to help Alma gain the ability to give her children a hug, do her girls hair, cook dinner without the help of her 8 year old, and to live a full, healthy, happy and succesful life. Thank you for taking the time to read her story and I hope she has inspired you to be positive even when your day may be gloomy.
"Try to be a rainbow in someone's cloud." ~Maya Angelou
On February 18, 2009 Alma was driving with her daughters to her new home. Suddenly, she ran over a pothole and lost control of her Ford explorer. The vehicle spun out into the gravel where it then flipped on the driver side and slid down the 2 lane road. A man who was working in the fields nearby witnessed the accident and ran to Alma's side. Her daughters made it out of the car without a scratch but Alma had been severely injured. She soon realized that her left arm was barely attached and hanging on by a piece of skin. She was helivaced to the nearest Hospital where they performed an X-ray and tests to see if they could reattach her arm. Unfortunately, the only thing that the doctors could do was to amputate her arm right above her elbow.
Despite the obstacles she faced after surgery she maintained a positive attitude towards life. She had something to live for, her daughters (and future son), and she pushed her self more and more everyday to accomplish her goals. She eventually finished school and graduated with an Associates in Medical Administration. Even though she has her degree she has continued her education in attempts to gain a Public Health Degree and maybe continue on to nursing. With that being said her goals of becoming a nurse are clouded by the fact that she does not have the necessary tools to draw blood, intubate a patient, or place an IV.
Recently Alma started the process to receive a "Myoelectric Prosthesis." She was told her insurance would cover a portion and she would have to cover 30% of the cost alone. After her most recent appointment her exictement was shattered when she was told that her insurance did not in fact cover any of this prosthetic and that she would need to pay the amount out of her pocket. Being a single mother of 3 children this is not feasible for her. Our goal here is to raise as close to the total cost of the prosthetic as possible to help Alma gain the ability to give her children a hug, do her girls hair, cook dinner without the help of her 8 year old, and to live a full, healthy, happy and succesful life. Thank you for taking the time to read her story and I hope she has inspired you to be positive even when your day may be gloomy.
"Try to be a rainbow in someone's cloud." ~Maya Angelou
Organizer
Lauren Gentry
Organizer
Riverside, CA
