Raise money for necessary medical aid, nursing

Hey Y'all,

My name is Avi Bagley and I am a physical therapist in South Florida. I recently through a client, came in contact with this beautiful little girl who suffered a tragic accident that has left her paralyzed from the neck down, meaning unable to move or feel from the neck down. The family is amazing and has done as best as they can to provide what is needed but unfortunately, there is an abundance of long-term care necessary including but not limited to 24/7 nursing, aids, psychological services, and social services to allow this wonderful girl to make the most of the rest of her life and allow the family to care for her in the best and most necessary way possible. Memphis is a wonderful girl with a great personality and incredible spirit through it all. And we can only hope that in the next few years, medicine catches up to where is should be to help SCI around the world. In the meantime though, there is a precious little girl who suffered the unthinkable and I am asking from the bottom of my heart, the family did not ask me to do this, that you please help as I cannot think of a more noble or just worthy cause.

Please read the full story below for more details on this amazing family and girl and thank you in advance... anything helps.

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Memphis Rose Hamman is a smart, spunky 9 year old girl who loves sparkles, Barbies, and

pink. Her smile lights up a room, and she has big dreams to help other people. On June 7,

2020, she was sitting in the back seat behind her Mimi (Tanya Meade) on their way to meet

other family members for for a fun night of bowling. Tanya’s older brother Kenny (known to

Memphis as Uncle Kenny) was in the passengers seat. They were chatting and laughing as

they drove eastbound. Suddenly a car traveling west in the oncoming lane lost control, jumped

the median and hit them head on. Because of this, they were pushed backward and the car

behind them smashed into the rear of their vehicle.

Life for this family forever changed in that instant.

Tanya’s left knee was crushed, as well as several bones in her foot were broken. Uncle Kenny

sustained massive internal injuries, and within several hours, Uncle Kenny went to heaven.

Memphis’ neck was fractured at the c2-c4 level which crushed her spinal cord. This left her

paralyzed from the shoulders down and on a ventilator to breathe for her. She had multiple

surgeries, and eventually was taken to Shriners Hospital for Children in Philadelphia where she

and her mom, Gayrene and her Mimi spent a month learning how to live in this new way.

Gayrene and Tanya became Memphis’ primary care givers, learning how to take care of her

multiple needs that, barring a miracle, will be a part of her daily life. Since her injuries are so

extensive, and getting qualified nursing care is difficult and never secure, Gayrene has not been

able to work since the accident. This has led to many financial needs.

Because the driver of the at fault vehicle was uninsured and perished at the scene, the financial

burden has fallen on the family and their community. Many generous people rallied to raise

funds to pay for their travel expenses and rent for the first year because they could no longer

live in the 2 story townhouse they shared with Mimi and Pop Pop (Gary Meade). The community

came together and raised nearly $100,000 in 2020. This paid for a year’s rent, utilities, some

medical bills, and a used handicapped equipped van with 170,000 miles on it. Recently,

generous friends provided them with a new van and a place to live to alleviate basic financial

woes. But still there are many needs.

Memphis is taking everything in stride. She sees this challenge as a new way of life, although

sometimes it makes still her really sad. She misses doing the things she used to be able to do,

like play dolls, make cookies, color, and ride her bike. But she also has some wonderful new

friends who have helped her and introduced her to new things she can do.

With the help of these wonderful friends, Memphis has written her first song, and her first book.

She is also starting a YouTube channel, and her website will be up and running soon.

Last January they travelled to Shriners again, to see if the surgery done to help her be able to

be off the ventilator during the day has been effective. It worked, but she will need additional

therapy using a pace-maker like device to stimulate the diaphragm to breathe for her. This will

take months. But even with this, she will still need to be on the ventilator during the night. She

will also need to undergo a spinal surgery this summer because she has developed scoliosis

and needs rods to help her spine to grow straight.

There are still so many challenges ahead. Memphis hasn’t been to school since the accident

because nursing care has been inconsistent at best and she needs a nurse to accompany her

everywhere. Many days it is just Mimi and Mom and Memphis instead of having the round the

clock care they need. Insurance has been difficult to navigate, and does not cover some of the

essentials like a tutor to help her catch up with school, and psychological care that is specific to

her needs. There are also many other needs, like specific physical and occupational therapies

that can really help but are out of reach because they have to be paid for out of pocket as

insurance doesn’t cover them.

Her tutor costs $70.00 an hour, and at this point she is only being tutored in reading and math

twice a week for an hour each time. She really needs at least 4 hours a week but 6-8 hours

would be ideal for her to really get up to speed in all subjects. The therapy she needs is very

specialized and there are only a few places that can work with a person with her level of injury

and on a ventilator. The closest one is in Orlando, and costs $100 per hour. Her recommended

therapy sessions are 2 hours a day 3-5 days a week. Memphis and her Mom and Mimi would be

grateful for any gift you would be so moved to give. Any amount will help.