Help my son walk again

In May this year, my 19 year old son was involved in a very serious car accident. He was ejected and sustained multiple burst fractures to his spine, in addition almost all vertebrae in his spine were either fractured, broken or compacted. The most serious being at T12 resulting in an incomplete spinal cord injury. He has had two spinal fusion surgeries, one to stabilize T12 and another to stabilize T4. He had a mild concussion, torn ligaments in his neck, nine broken ribs, a punctured lung and a broken right foot. Thankfully no brain damage or internal bleeding. Aside from the punctured lung all of his internal organs were good.

He spent two and a half days intubated and on life support. He also needed a blood transfusion. The first 48 hours were touch and go.

As a result, his body forgot how to work when they removed the intubation. He lost over 30 pounds and had to learn how to eat, drink and talk again.

Due to the level of injuries he had, he was not allowed to move. He was placed in a neck brace that he had to wear 24 hours a day, a TLSO which is a hard turtle shell back brace that was worn during therapy and a foot brace worn 24 hours a day as well.

While he was in the ICU, we were told he would be a quadriplegic.

He spent two weeks in ICU before he was ready to move to a regular room. His trauma team was wonderful. They recommended that he go to the Craig Hospital in Englewood, Colorado, one of the leading neuro rehab hospitals in the United States. They specialize in traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries.

Each day, he defied the odds and became stronger. He had gained back the use of his hands and arms and even had trunk control. He was even getting some movement back in his legs and feet.

Once we were accepted to Craig Hospital, he was airlifted for the next round of his recovery. We spent the next six weeks in Colorado where he worked very hard, everyday.

His sheer strength, determination and hard work have been paying off. Each day he was stronger, could move more and was getting some feeling back in his legs and feet. Even able to walk a little with assistance!

The daily routine at Craig involved PT, OT, weight circuits, strength training, wheelchair classes and much more.

The broken foot was not healing and it was decided that he needed to have surgery to put in a plate in order to continue a successful outcome for him. The surgery was done and he was sent home to recover, putting a stop to his therapy sessions.

He has been home nine weeks now and was finally cleared to go back to Colorado to continue his therapy.

We have been very blessed that he has healed and he will be able to walk again. His spinal cord injury will never go away. It will be a permanent injury that he will have for the rest of his life. He will be considered a walking paraplegic. As a result, he will need to be careful with everything he does.

We are asking for assistance for the costs of travel out of state, hotel stays, gas and food, medical equipment and supplies and medication, therapy and doctor visits. Medical insurance will not pay for a wheelchair, so we have had to rent one. Outpatient therapy starts August 30th.

Through the grace of God, he has come so far! Please help us get him to be the best he can be and get him back on his feet (literally) again, back to the independent, strong, confident person he is. Thank you for any assistance you can offer.