JOIN TEAM JONAH!

Jonah is in need of financial support. His injury is severe. While he's working his utmost, his needs for recovery surpass what insurance will cover. The number of people reaching out since his accident has been incredible, and if we all pitch in just a little bit financially, we believe he can access the best care possible for this challenging recovery path he's on.

Funds will be used for recovery and mobility. This includes rehabilitation equipment such as an FES bike to electrically stimulate his legs and remind his nerves what that feels like. Also, a lift to get into the house without needing someone to push him up the ramp. Also a modified car he can drive with just his hands. He values independence, and one of his goals is to get a job and get back to earning his own money.

THE INJURY

In April 2023, in his senior year of high-school, Jonah was in a motorcycle accident where he incurred a severe spinal cord injury, a head injury, and several broken bones. The spinal cord injury left him paralyzed from his chest down. He has no feeling nor voluntary movement below that point.

He spent almost 2 weeks in the ICU in Utah. At that point Jonah could only move his head. His body couldn't regulate his blood pressure or his body temperature, and he had to be tube fed because he couldn't even swallow.

From the ICU in Utah, he was flown to a specialty hospital in Denver where they discovered he needed surgery on his spine. After having his C-4 to T-3 bones fused together, Jonah endured unfathomable pain for another 2 weeks in the ICU. Finally, Jonah was stable enough to begin rehab. What was supposed to be a fun filled summer after high-school graduation became 2 months of Jonah fighting for any ability to move his body as he worked tirelessly as a patient at Craig Hospital. His therapies include physical, occupational, assistive tech, functional electrical stimulation (FES), robotic-assisted motor control, mental, swallowing, diet, bowel and bladder, wheelchair training, driving, recreation, transfers, skin care, and activities of daily living.

ROAD TO RECOVERY

We are learning that the devastating impact of a spinal cord injury is far greater than losing the ability to walk. Jonah's body still struggles to regulate his blood pressure and body temperature. He has been plagued with high fevers and infections along with debilitating muscle spasms that are incredibly painful and make daily life difficult to manage. He has to wake regularly to adjust or he will get severe skin sores. Since coming home, Jonah has spent countless hours in his therapy classes. While the progress is much slower than any of us would like, his core is getting stronger and he's now able to sit for a bit without support and he has regained a lot of function in his right hand. The road to recovery with a spinal cord injury is a long one, but we see people who are finding help and improvement with lots of work and alternative treatments. Thankfully, health insurance covered catastrophic and many ongoing rehabilitation expenses. But unfortunately insurance will only do so much, and in order for Jonah to continue to progress, we will have to fund much it on our own.

There are treatments and specialized equipment that Jonah has not been able to have, because the costs are extremely high and insurance will not cover them. For example an FES bike that can stimulate Jonah's legs and help him reduce muscle spasms, maintain bone density, improve circulation. It has been linked with regaining function in the lower extremities. It costs $30k and insurance won't cover it. These funds may also help him access alternative treatments. One implants an electrical stimulation device which helps reduce spasms, which is one of Jonah's biggest struggles right now.

Consider this an invitation to take part in Jonah’s effort to live his best life. Donations to this fund will go directly to Jonah’s rehabilitation and equipment to help him gain his independence. His parents will manage the fund and no amount is too small and every available cent will go toward his next benchmark rehabilitation objective.

Thank you so much for your support!