Hi, my name is Julie. I'm fundraising to help cover costs associated with my recovery and rehab related to a devastating diving accident that has paralyzed me from the chest down. It's taken me a little over a week to process and find the words to best exemplify the impact "this event" has had on my life. Doctors estimate there is only a 3-5% chance I will ever walk again.

For those that are familiar with spinal cord injuries will likely know the degree of impact that severing your spinal cord at your c6 vertebrae will have on your everyday life. For those that don't, it means I no longer have any mobility in my legs, feeling in my lower abdomen, or full use of my hands.

Life isn't always fair but I learned a long time ago to never back down from a challenge. Resilience isn't always pretty. It requires a level of recognition and acceptance that you aren't quite where you want to be, or need to be, and in order to get there you need a combination of: persistence and patience; a willingness to be vulnerable; humility and courage to ask for help; a trust in your providers, family and friends; and a great deal of faith. No man is an island and no man can deal with this alone.

And while I don't know what rehabilitation has in store for me, I can tell you that every part of me will be invested in it. While knowing that I was just 10 days from defending my dissertation and a month away from completing my doctoral requirements is heartbreaking, I'm just grateful to be alive. I vow to prioritize my health and those who have demonstrated unconditional love and positive regard through this time, complete my doctorate, and return to work. I vow to help myself, others, and my future patients.

I have been awarded a unique opportunity to be placed at world-renowned rehab facility (Shirley Ryan Ability Lab) in Chicago, IL, near where I grew up and near where my family lives. While I am optimistic and hopeful this will change my life for the better, I also recognize the financial burden that this will place on me and my family. While I would not ever ordinarily seek donations, I recognize that it is only through your help that I have the best chance to accomplish my goals and to regain function.

Thank you very much for any donations! Your generosity is sincerely appreciated!