Support Emmy’s Recovery & Return to Art

Emmy’s recovery fund covers rehab copays, in‑home therapy, mobility gear, and studio aid

392 donors

$75,000 raised of

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Support Emmy’s Recovery & Return to Art

Co-organized

Saki Sato and 4 others are organizing this fundraiser on behalf of Emmy Thelander.

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Emmy Thelander is an artist who needs our help.

On January 2, while preparing for a residency at the Cité Internationale des Arts in Paris, Emmy suffered a traumatic fall. She broke a vertebra and bruised her spinal cord, resulting in a sudden loss of mobility in her legs. Emmy underwent emergency surgery to stabilize her spine, followed by several weeks in acute inpatient rehabilitation. She is now transitioning to outpatient rehab at Rusk Rehabilitation in New York City, where she is focusing on physical and occupational therapy to help her transition back to a life of independence. Emmy is working very hard and is determined to recover as much mobility as possible, but she still lacks feeling below her waist, and our generosity will help her through this difficult period. Health insurance covered her inpatient hospital bills, but many of her upcoming expenses are not covered, creating a significant financial burden.

Your donation will support some of Emmy’s immediate needs:

Co-pays for therapies and doctor’s visits ($6500 for 1 year)
Accessible transportation to appointments ($500)
Wheelchair fitted specially for Emmy’s needs, including power assist ($6000-$10,000)
Uncovered medications and supplies ($3000 for 1 year)
In-home physical therapy and body work to supplement her work at Rusk ($7000)
Medical equipment for home mobility, such as transfer boards ($500)
Furniture for her temporary apartment in NYC while receiving care at Rusk ($2000)
An art studio assistant, who will aid her in completing several upcoming deadlines to produce new work ($8000)

And will also support her longer-term needs:

Accessible modifications for her long-term home ($3000-$40,000)
Outfitting her car with hand controls ($4000-$9000)
A part-time personal care attendant ($20,000)
Travel for specialty treatment ($3000)
Out-of-network medical care for specialty visits ($3500 for 1 year)
Rental of accessible studio space ($9500 for 1 year)

Emmy is an artist whose paintings, sculptures, and installations use the details of daily life—gardens, balconies, the rhythms of the body—to ask big questions about how we live, what we need, and what it means to be truly present. She is also an accomplished and passionate educator, teaching painting and drawing at Binghamton University in New York.

In addition to supporting her immediate physical needs, we want to ensure Emmy has support to continue making new artwork and preparing for several forthcoming exhibitions. Donations will enable her to hire a studio assistant, who will aid her in completing several upcoming deadlines to produce new work. These resources will help Emmy focus on her recovery and regain independence, while also nurturing her return to her life as an artist.

Your support will make a real impact in Emmy’s life. Thank you for considering a donation and for standing with Emmy during this challenging time.