Let's Help Sean Stand Tall Again

On July 4, 2021, Sean was celebrating at a friend's house, enjoying food & fireworks, as most of us do for the holiday. Sean was about to head home when he instead dove into the swimming pool. He hit his head at the bottom of the swimming pool. After seeing Sean float to the surface face down and unresponsive, friends jumped in to rescue him. The paramedics were called immediately. Sean's mother, Stephanie, then received the unimaginable call that would turn their world upside down.

 

Upon arriving to the E.R, Stephanie was informed Sean could not feel anything below his shoulders. Sean had fractured his C-4 and C-5 vertebrae and there was significant damage to the spine. The spinal cord injury would require emergency surgery. The neurosurgeon placed two rods on each side of the spine from C-3 to C-6, eight pins and performed a bone fusion. The operation was merely to stabilize Sean's spine. The recovery prognosis is completely unknown and varies for each spinal cord injury patient.

 

Following surgery, Sean was admitted to the Pediatric ICU where he was alert and able to speak, but still had significant paralysis. Shortly after, Sean was able to slowly regain sensation in parts of his upper body and a portion of his arms. Sean cannot feel his hands, fingers or below his chest. Due to a fluid buildup in his lungs, Sean requires various chest therapies to rid his body of secretions, as his body is currently not strong enough to do so on it's own. Additional x-rays and ultrasounds were ordered to verify the status of his lungs and diaphragm. Although it was determined that Sean did not have paralysis of the diaphragm, it was discovered that a small lower corner of the left lung had collapsed. Sean continues to use chest physical therapy equipment and has respiratory therapy every four hours.

 

Learning of this accident has been devastating for Sean's family. Sean's loved the water since he was a baby. His mom would take him to Learn to Swim classes at age six where he ended each lesson by proudly doing cannon balls into the pool. By eight years old, he was swimming the breaststroke underwater across a twelve foot deep pool at summer camp. Before long, he advanced to competing in Water Polo and was on the Swim & Dive team for four years. Sean even became a certified Lifeguard. This unexpected accident is a reminder that life can change in an instant.

 

The reason Sean and his mother need your help... For weeks, his mom has not left his side. Sean is completely dependent upon, not only the nurses, but his mother. Sean has extremely limited mobility requiring help with everything he does. In the midst of caring for Sean in the PICU, Stephanie was forced to take an unpaid leave from her job as a healthcare hero. Having no income, this dedicated, hardworking, single mother deserves our help so she can continue caring for Sean while aiding in his recovery.

 

Please consider supporting Sean and his mom, as they cope with the financial challenges ahead, which will include months of inpatient rehabilitation and outpatient physical/ occupational therapy. Sean is a strong and determined young man. We have no doubt he will approach the challenges he now faces with the same passion and fortitude.

Let's all lend a hand and help Sean stand tall again.