My name is Kristina Andrews, and I am 32 years old. On June 18, my life changed in an instant when I fell from the fourth floor of an apartment building. I sustained a devastating ASIA B spinal cord injury at C6 and am now paralyzed from the chest down.
I spent a month at Tampa General Hospital, where my life was stabilized. I am incredibly grateful that they covered two months for me at NeuLife Rehabilitation Center. There, I received specialized physical therapy and electrotherapy five days a week — the kind of high-intensity rehabilitation that gives someone with my injury a real chance at regaining movement.
Those two months gave me hope.
Unfortunately, my Medicaid does not cover an inpatient rehabilitation stay at their facility. After the hospital coverage ended, I remained at NeuLife uninsured, not knowing from one day to the next when I might be told to leave.
I was later accidentallytransferred to a psychiatric facility in Miami. I was there for about ten days, but I did not receive the spinal cord rehabilitation my body urgently needs, I didn’t receive any at all.
I am now in a 24-hour nursing facility in Dunedin, Florida. While I am thankful to be safe, this facility primarily serves elderly residents and only provides very light stretching. It is not the aggressive, consistent therapy that is critical during the first year after a spinal cord injury — the year that doctors say matters most.
Without proper therapy, I can feel my strength fading. I have already been hospitalized multiple times, including my first stay at Mease Dunedin on Christmas Eve. Each setback is frightening, because I know how precious this window of recovery is.
I have reached out to grants, charities, fundraising organizations, sports teams, media outlets, and Florida-based companies. While I have not yet found the financial help I need, I am deeply grateful to Tampa Bay Times for sharing my story, and to Tampa City Councilman Luis Viera for taking the time to speak with me. Their kindness reminded me that people do care.
Still, this fight feels incredibly lonely at times. I have a small family who love me dearly but are not in a position to support me financially. My case manager has exhausted her options, so I continue advocating for myself every single day.
More than anything, I am a mother. I have a three-year-old daughter who needs her mom. She is my reason for pushing through the fear, the depression, and the anxiety that come with such a sudden and life-altering injury.
I am humbly asking for help to return to an intensive rehabilitation center where I can continue the therapy that gives me the best chance at mobility and independence. My first goal is simple but life-changing: to transfer myself from the bed to a chair independently. My second goal is even bigger — to learn how to walk again.
I know recovery takes time. I am patient. I am willing to work harder than I ever have in my life. But the first year after injury is crucial, and I do not want to lose the progress I fought so hard to gain.
Even the smallest donation would go directly toward rehabilitation care. If you are unable to give, sharing my story could connect me with someone who can.
At 32, I still have dreams. I still have goals. I still have a life I want to live fully — not just for myself, but for my daughter.
Thank you for taking the time to read my story, and for any support, kindness, or prayers you can offer.
With heartfelt gratitude,
Kristina Andrews
Also featured in Tampa Bay Times for more of the story:
https://www.tampabay.com/news/health/2025/09/29/an-uninsured-florida-mom-fell-4th-floor-will-she-ever-walk-again/
Follow up story:
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