Miracle for Verla Hodges

Hi, my name is Janelle Harris. I’m starting this fundraiser with the permission of my parents, Larry and Verla Hodges. My mom is the best person I know. If you have the privilege to know her, you have probably felt the impact of her compassion, kindness and charity. She is always more concerned about other peoples’ needs than her own, and she shows this through constant service and prayer.

On May 9th, just 4 days after her 74th birthday and one day after Mother’s Day, our family received terrible news that my oldest sister has cancer. While getting ready to go comfort and cheer up my sister, my mom suffered a life-altering fall. She had immediate paralysis. She couldn’t feel or move her body below her neck. She was taken by ambulance to the hospital for an initial diagnosis. Soon after she was transferred to a different hospital so she could be seen by a neurosurgeon. It was discovered that she had compressed her C3 to C7 vertebrae in her neck which caused a traumatic spinal cord injury. She underwent emergency surgery in the middle of the night. Without the surgery the paralysis would be permanent. With surgery, there would be hope for healing. 

 

While lying in the ICU for over a week, she asked my dad to call me. She could barely speak, but with staggered breath she muttered, "I need a miracle." My heart broke in that moment because I knew she would have a long road ahead of her.

She has since been at a Rehabilitation Hospital and will soon be released. She is working hard to gain some of her mobility back through various therapies, but the progress has been slow and difficult. The Doctor shared that it could take up to 9 months to see exactly how much function she will be able to regain. 

 

Currently she still needs 24/7 care and 100% assistance. A powered wheelchair, hospital bed and a lift are just some of the pieces of medical equipment she will need. She will also need to continue going to outpatient therapy, but transportation is a problem right now. She will have to stay in the wheelchair while being driven to and from therapy, so it will require a van of some sort. 

 

My mom is a retired Texas teacher on Medicare. My dad is also retired. The costs for the new equipment are not fully covered with her very limited benefits.  Home health will cost $3,000 a month and is not covered by Medicare. Transportation is also not covered by Medicare and it will be difficult to pay for all of this on a fixed income. 

We have been asking for prayers, but many people have asked us what else they can do to help. If you can please donate to this fund we would be forever grateful. No dollar amount is too small as every dollar will help. If you are unable to donate, please continue to pray for my mom and share this link with others. 

The funds raised will go to her transportation and help us provide her with home healthcare aides to assist with her daily needs.

Please help me give my mom the miracle she deserves and is striving to receive.