Saving Monique's Legs

Jeannine Apodaca is organizing this fundraiser on behalf of Monique Apodaca.

Donation protected

Hi everyone, this is Jeannine.

As many of you know from several of my Facebook posts, my niece Monique became paralyzed August 17, 2020.

She was diagnosed with spinal meningitis…source unknown. Source unknown…unacceptable!! After several months of paperwork and numerous phone calls, she became an outpatient at Barrows Neurological Institute in Phoenix, AZ in November 2020. It was there that they determined her spinal meningitis was caused by West Nile Virus. Yes, a mosquito bite caused her paralysis! Okay, how do we fix this?! There is no cure for West Nile Virus…many people do not even know they have it. But for a very small percentage of people, they can become paralyzed. Unfortunately, Monique is one of them. So in Monique fashion, she set out to beat this and to get back to the healthy, strong and active 41 year old woman she was before her diagnosis. If you know Monique, you know she is a fighter…we call her “Wonder Woman”! She has come a very long way in nine months but still has a long journey to get back to where she was.

Although she still needs her wheelchair to go long distances, she now uses a walker, crutches and just recently a cane with assistance. The care and treatment she received and continues to receive at Barrows has been exceptional!! In addition to her therapy at Barrows, she has also been receiving hyperbaric chamber therapy in Scottsdale, AZ.

These pure oxygen sessions have also played a key role in Monique’s recovery. Monique’s journey now takes her to Denver, CO where she has been accepted to Barwis Neurological Reengineering program starting mid June 2021. There she will receive the most advanced, scientifically based, holistic and cutting-edge techniques and methods to increase her neuromuscular activation and control.

None of this has been possible without exorbitant out of pocket expense (she has already paid out over $20,000 on her own to continue treatment). Which brings me to why I am appealing to all that know and love Monique. Monique is always the first to step up, help and support her family, friends and loved ones…whether it’s being in lock down with a friend at the hospital during a pandemic until her friend gives birth, planning that party/event that only Monique can do with her special touches, or being there with a loved one while he takes his last breath (her grandpa and father-in-law). We are beyond grateful and so very blessed for the support she has received through our TCB (Taking Care of Business) booster campaign www.boosterclubsales.com/collections/saving-moniques-legs, free hotel nights for some of her 15 plus trips to Phoenix, other monetary donations that have helped with insurance co-pays, gas, food, hyperbaric treatments, etc… It is never easy to ask for help, especially monetary help! As you might imagine, the program at Barwis is expensive and is NOT covered by insurance. Her plan is to be there 2 weeks…maybe 3 God willing. Monique is already working on ideas on how she can pay this forward…hopefully working with local government and business’s in making Las Cruces more handicap accessible and friendly. If you can help in any way…we thank you from the bottom of our hearts and if you are unable, we ask for continued prayers and positive thoughts while Monique continues her journey to kicking paralysis in the ass and walking again!!! Monique is a mother, a wife, a daughter, a sister, a granddaughter, an Aunt, a friend, a fighter and a survivor!! We are a family of faith and know God has a plan…God is Great!! You can read her complete journey on her Facebook page.

God Bless You All,

Jeannine