Summer's Wings

Our friend needs your help. In a big way. My name is Sharon Garfield. Kim Robason and I are long-time friends of Summer Philips Pierce, and we are starting this GoFundMe to let Summer’s friends and extended family know of her current circumstances and a way to help.

A few months ago, Summer experienced a freak fall, hitting her head on her bedroom dresser in such a way that it damaged her neck and spinal cord. Following a Care Flight to a Colorado Springs trauma hospital, Summer underwent immediate neck surgery. They attempted to repair three vertebrae in her neck, yet Summer woke up having no feeling or movement below her chest and a diagnosis of Severe Spinal Cord Injury. But, she also woke up with an immediate fighting spirit with which I’m sure all who know Summer are very familiar. She is now in an excellent and well-renowned rehabilitation hospital in Denver, and she has made tremendous progress there. Her spirits have, of course, been up and down throughout, but a fun-fact is that her doctors, nurses, therapists, and staff have all come to know her wit and humor very well. They refer to her wit as “Summer-isms.” We refer to it as Summer.

Summer & Chris have been very reluctant,  to believe that they could not manage this on their own or that they would end up needing help from their friends. In fact, Summer didn’t even want to let people know what had happened until the day she could show her friends the progress she was sure she would be able to make despite all that happened. But things have changed.

Summer and Chris were hyper-focused on her rehabilitation process when they were hit with some astounding bills forcing some major reality blasts from the outside world. This was almost immediately followed by the devastating news that Summer’s most significant and primary goal of walking out of that rehab facility on her own was not going to be possible. AND that she may never have use of her hands again. AND that her stay in the hospital section of Craig rehab facility would be ending in late March, AND that her & Chris’s time in the on-campus transition apartment would come to an end in late April AND that their home must be ready for her arrival. The knowledge and timing of all of this has meant that they must get their beautiful mountain home transformed to be accessible for a 350 lb motorized wheelchair, including significant bathroom renovations, doorway and hallway enlargements, flooring changes, ramps etc, etc. The best estimate for this, at this time, is reaching towards $100K. Their home must be equipped with all sorts of medical and adaptive equipment. And they will need a way to transport her. They have learned that an adapted van for motorized wheelchairs capable of handling snow costs $90K+. Their future will be full of costs for Home Health Care assistance, continued therapy, and long-term care that Medicare does not cover. And now, much of this must happen very, very soon. Their home must be ready before she can come home.
That’s where we, their friends, come in. Right now, the best way we can help is with our prayers and financial assistance. Please give to their cause as you are able. Please pass this on to anyone you think would want to be of help in this situation. Post it on your social media, and email and text it to those you know. I am praying that together we can make a difference.