Help Kristen Get her life back

My Two Positions

If one would have told me that I would be in this position at some point in my life, I would not have believed them.

My high school life can be described as athletic. I diligently trained and ran track. One of my most memorable moments is when I made it to the front page of the sports Newspaper on April 23, 2017. I still look at the image of the newspaper and wonder at how drastic things have changed. I am captured in the photo leaping over a hundred-meter hurdle; my front leg reaching for the ground as my remaining leg just escapes the hurdle. It’s sad that my legs can no longer move in such a succession nor in any event.

My first position is that I am currently a C6 and C7 quadriplegic. Indeed, while I ran track, I never believed I would be confined to medically necessary equipment with barely any hope of hitting the track again.

The drastic change of events occurred one morning at 9 am in a park when I was hit by a stray bullet. (The proverbial wrong place at the wrong time.) Upon the medical review, I learned I would not be as athletic on my 21st birthday. Moreover, the consequences are not limited to my well-being but also extend to my daughter. I am a mother to a beautiful seven-year-old girl whom I have independently raised since her birth. I never conceived of raising my own daughter as a challenge as I have committed myself to years of hard work to provide for her.

My second position is that I cannot foot my healthcare bills and purchase necessary equipment. I have been privileged to have a family caregiver. Unfortunately, I will be losing her a soon as we find a replacement and will have to source a home nurse. It is even more painful that these additional expenses are a necessity. I cannot do without the services of a health practitioner and will depend on them for both day and night services. Additionally, I need equipment that is essential in my rehabilitation. Top of the list is the standing power chair that will help me shift to a standing position to eliminate health strains and to continue to train my body for more than being a quadriplegic, which is as much of a health issue as it is psychological. Other equipment like a shower chair, medical bed and mattress are on the necessary list as well. Anyone who has had to refit a home to accommodate the handicapped knows, the list of expenses are enormous with price tags to match.

Finally, I am hoping the donations can settle the medical expenses while providing me a chance to continue the fight. I assure you that my athletic spirit is still fiery, and I plan on continuing to fight out of this condition or at least land in a better state. When athletes train, they hope to win the race but get better regardless of the outcome of the race. And I am an athlete!

I am grateful to everyone and your help in reaching my target goal is very appreciated.