In addition to being a wife and mother, Elena is a Special Education teacher for preschool students who have significant medical and developmental delays.  For several years, Elena experienced increasingly worse back pain, which she attributed to over 25 years of lifting students to help change or reposition them. Initial X-rays showed a slightly bulging disc and osteoarthritis. However, after months of physical therapy, the pain had only gotten worse.  An MRI in May of 2019 showed that she had a tumor that was compressing the spinal cord against her T10, 11, and 12 vertebrae.  The doctors were amazed she was still able to walk. Surgery was the only option, and was scheduled for June 6th.  Somehow, she was able to get through the remaining two weeks of school. Unfortunately, the pain became so bad that she had to go to the ER the night of June 1st. Little did we know, she would not come home again until August 1st. 
The 8 hour surgery on June 6th was successful and the tumor was completely removed. Due to the large amount of her vertebrae that had to be removed to access the tumor, Elena also had a spinal fusion, which required two metal rods to be placed along her spine to support her back. The relief that the tumor was successfully removed, quickly changed to concern as the neurosurgeon reported that Elena’s spinal cord was even more compressed than could be seen in the MRI, and that although the signal strength improved during the surgery, Elena’s reactions decreased. An MRI showed that her spinal cord had moved back into position after the tumor was removed, but had also become extremely swollen. Prior to the surgery, the neurosurgeon had said there was a 1 or 2% chance that she may have significant complications, including paralysis after the surgery. Unfortunately, the odds were against Elena and she had no feeling or muscle control below the site of the tumor. In addition to learning she was paralyzed, Elena spent two weeks in the ICU dealing with other complications from the surgery, including a pulmonary embolism and several infections.
Once the embolism and infections were under control, she was transferred to Marionjoy Rehabilitation Hospital to begin therapy.  She was in patient at Marionjoy through the summer and returned home on August 1st. Since then she has been in Day Rehab at Marionjoy, which consists of physical and occupational therapy several days a week. One of the therapies she is able to use is an Exoskeleton, which allows her to stand and walk by reading impulses in her hips.
As the months have gone on, Elena has remained unbelievably positive and focused on walking again. She is slowly regaining some feeling and now can recognize touch at the level of her hips. Unfortunately, as the nerves regenerate, she is in almost constant pain. Although this "good pain" indicates that the nerves are regenerating, it is difficult to deal with. Following the surgery the doctors and therapists all said it could be 12 to 18 months before Elena would be able to walk again. However as time has gone on we have now been told it could be an additional 2 or 3 years before we know to what extent she will recover. 
Since her return home, Elena and her husband, Brad, have converted the front room of their home into their bedroom. In addition, the door to the first floor powder room was widened to accommodate Elena's wheelchair. When the timeline was 12 to 18 months, they felt they could make the temporary arrangement work. Now that they know it will be longer, they need to make additional accommodations to the home to help with Elena's recovery, including installing a chair lift that will allow Elena to have access to the second floor of their home, including being able to take a shower. Additional modifications include replacing the carpeting with a solid floor to allow better wheelchair movement, and modifications to the master bathroom to allow wheelchair access. There are also ongoing costs for medical supplies and equipment that are not covered by insurance. 
As she has become stronger, Elena has completed the Driver's Education Program through Marionjoy and learned how to drive a car with hand controls. The cost of the hand controls and installation in her car, along with the cost of the driver's education are not covered by insurance. 
We know that it is a tough time for many people, but if there is anything you can do to help, that would mean so much to us. 
Thank you,

The Wolcott Family