Join Us in Assisting Kelly Mongiovi's Recovery

Hello All!

My name is Kelly Finegan. I am a longtime family friend of Kelly A. Mongiovi. I am asking for your help and much needed support on her behalf. Hopefully, by sharing her story, it will reach not only her extended family and friends, but perhaps even the kindness and generosity of some strangers too. If anyone deserves to be lifted up during a time of unimaginable circumstances and a series of unfortunate events, it’s her. She is truly is in need of our help.

Kelly and her twin sister were born 3 1/2 months premature with Cerebral Palsy. They are both unable to walk and use a the power wheelchair for maximum independence. I was deeply saddened to learn that their Mother passed away in 2012 at the age of 58 after a long battle with leukemia. Her twin sister suffered in anoxic brain injury after being on a ventilator for over 4 months during Covid. Because of this, she now has zero short memory. She suffers from permanent adverse psychological symptoms that must be managed by full-time in-home support care.

Kelly is extremely tenacious. She has always risen above and overcome more obstacles than most of us see in our lifetime. Recently, she has experienced a series of tragic and traumatic events. Particularly, over the course of the last few years. Last year, Kelly lost her job without any warning after finally relocating back to Florida to be closer to her family and friends. And to return to her A=alma mater University of Florida, where she previously earned 3 degrees. Prior to that she was living and working full time for a college in North Carolina until she was laid off due to COVID-19 where remained unemployed for over two years.

As if those circumstances weren’t challenging and daunting enough, less than two months after she was released from her contract of her most recent position in Florida, she fractured both femurs and knees along with sustaining severe tendon and ligament damage as a result of a devastating fall from her power wheelchair. Her injuries required surgery, a lengthy hospitalization along with almost 5 months of inpatient hospital rehabilitation.

She has since recently came home from the hospital, but is contending with extensive hospital bills and related expenses that are not covered by her Medicaid or Medicare, despite submitting multiple appeals. In addition, because she lives in a college town and is still unemployed, her rental and daily living expenses are far more than the $2000 a month she receives in SSDI benefits. She is ineligible for any further state or federal funding such as food stamps or income based ADA wheelchair accessible housing.

She requires weekly doctors appointments and transportation assistance as she continues to recover from her injuries. While she has her own 2006 wheelchair modified minivan, it needs a minimum of $5000 of repairs. Currently, the air conditioning is no longer working. The van has even begun growing mold on the interior surfaces, despite repeated repairs to the A/C and associated issues.

I know that if the roles were reversed, Kelly would be one of the first people to extend a helping hand to others in need. Whether it be individuals she knew or not. She has endured so much pain, disappointment, and loss throughout her life. And yet, she still persists. She keeps moving forward with a motivated and empathetic heart. Whether you can give $1 or $100, every little bit would greatly help. While we may not be able to resolve everything for her, together we can help her take the steps necessary for her required healing and journey ahead.