Our Journey

I never imagined that one surgical mistake could change the course of my entire life.

I have Chiari malformation and syringomyelia, and after years of surgeries and treatment, I was already facing challenges that I never expected to have to live with. But following one of my surgeries, a surgical mistake led to a devastating series of complications that ultimately left me quadriplegic and changed nearly every part of my daily life.

In a matter of time, things I once did without thinking became things I could no longer do on my own.

I now live with severe nerve pain and spasticity, weakness and loss of function in my arms and legs, and difficulty with many of the simplest parts of everyday life. Things like getting dressed, preparing food, getting in and out of bed, using my phone, or simply moving around my own home can require help.

I have spent countless hours in hospitals, undergone numerous surgeries, and worked through extensive rehabilitation trying to regain pieces of the life I lost. There have been moments when I wasn’t sure how much function I would ever get back. But I continue to fight.

My husband has had to step away from his job to become my full-time caregiver. He became the person helping me through the moments that no spouse should ever have to watch their partner endure. While we are incredibly grateful that he has been able to be there for me, losing his income while facing ongoing medical, caregiving, and accessibility expenses has placed an enormous financial strain on our family.

Now, we are working toward the next chapter.

As we establish more reliable caregiving support and my husband works toward returning to work, we are continuing to upgrade and renovate our home to meet my accessibility needs. We are trying to turn the place we call home into a place where I can move more safely, receive the care I need, and regain as much independence as possible.

These aren’t simply renovations. For me, accessibility means freedom.

It means being able to move through my own home with fewer limitations. It means having the equipment and modifications I need to participate in therapy and everyday life. It means giving my husband the ability to care for me more safely. And most importantly, it means creating a home where I can continue fighting to regain the pieces of myself that I refuse to give up on.

We are raising money to help with the continued accessibility renovations to our home, an accessible wheelchair van, specialized medical and therapy equipment, rehabilitation, caregiving, and the many unexpected expenses that come with rebuilding a life after a devastating medical complication.

Our goal isn’t simply to make life more comfortable.

Our goal is to help me live.

To help me keep fighting.

To give me back pieces of the independence I lost.

To allow my husband to eventually return to work while knowing that I am safe and cared for.

And to give our family the opportunity to build a future that isn’t defined by what happened to me.

I never asked for this life. I never imagined that a surgery intended to help me would leave me fighting to regain the most basic things I once took for granted.

But I’m still here.

I’m still fighting.

And I’m still believing that there are better days ahead.

If you are able to donate, every contribution—no matter how big or small—helps us take another step forward. If you can’t donate, sharing our story can make just as much of a difference.

Thank you for standing beside me and my family as we continue fighting for the life I was supposed to have.