Help for Jo-Marie
Donation protected
Since first writing this earlier this year, we have experienced a huge outpouring of generosity, support and love for Jo and we wanted to update her story for you all.
Jo moved back down to the Bay Area in California after 3 weeks in Vancouver General Hospital where she was extremely well cared for. She has been at Valley Medical Center in San Jose since, and is working very hard at the rehab center here to gain back some strength to be able to begin to take ultimately take care of herself. The plan is to move her home to Sunnyvale early March to be with her parents as she continues the long journey of recovery.
Thank you for your ongoing contributions to her medical needs and hospital bills!
**Update about this new campaign**
To those of you who've been following our journey, we recreated our campaign to collect funds in US dollars rather than Canadian dollars, as we feel this will provide a better experience and opportunity for donors, given that their donations will not be subject to the currency exchange.
If you've already donated to our previous campaign, we thank you for your generosity and support! Please consider this new USD campaign an extension of our previous one.
As many of you know, Jo has been hospitalized in Vancouver, Canada since Christmas Eve. Jo had just completed her first semester of a two year acting program in New York and was excited to spend Christmas with her parents and siblings on a once in a life-time snowboarding trip in Whistler, Canada. However, on her third day at the resort (December 24th) Jo had a catastrophic fall while snowboarding, and sustained a spinal cord injury to her neck. She was rushed to Vancouver General Hospital by helicopter and went through a 4-hour surgery to stabilize her neck. Jo spent nearly a week in ICU and has since been moved to the VGH Spinal Ward to continue her recovery. Jo is presently unable to move her arms and legs but in the last few days has been allowed to swallow pureed food. As of right now, we do not know what Jo’s condition will be with time but what is beyond evident is Jo has an incredible strength, a fighter spirit, and positive outlook that will pull her through. This amazing strength is also reflected in her siblings, Jessica and Jamie. As her parents, myself and her dad, Kevin, we will remain by her side through the process.
We really need your support right now. Jo did not have travel insurance when she came to Canada, and her hospital bills are mounting. We are solely concerned about Jo receiving the care she needs, and we will do all that we can to ensure she gets the best care. However we cannot deny that, these costs will be incredibly large. The cost of Jo’s hospital room (without the costs of doctors, medications etc..) is already over $200,000. What we need the most is the freedom to be able to focus on supporting and caring for our daughter. As well as the increasing medical bills, Jo will need medical modifications to her home with us in California and transport for when she is released from rehabilitation in Santa Clara.
The journey ahead of our family is a difficult one, and we are beyond grateful for our friends and family in the United States, United Kingdom and Canada that have been so supportive!
A donation, no matter what size, would make a profound difference to our family. Thank you so much for any help that you can give.
What You Can Do:
1. Donate through the Donate button on this page
2. Share this campaign, as well
Please take five minutes out of your day to share Jo's story to as many people as possible. A quick email or a post on Facebook will make all the difference in creating a successful fundraising campaign for Jo!
Jo moved back down to the Bay Area in California after 3 weeks in Vancouver General Hospital where she was extremely well cared for. She has been at Valley Medical Center in San Jose since, and is working very hard at the rehab center here to gain back some strength to be able to begin to take ultimately take care of herself. The plan is to move her home to Sunnyvale early March to be with her parents as she continues the long journey of recovery.
Thank you for your ongoing contributions to her medical needs and hospital bills!
**Update about this new campaign**
To those of you who've been following our journey, we recreated our campaign to collect funds in US dollars rather than Canadian dollars, as we feel this will provide a better experience and opportunity for donors, given that their donations will not be subject to the currency exchange.
If you've already donated to our previous campaign, we thank you for your generosity and support! Please consider this new USD campaign an extension of our previous one.
As many of you know, Jo has been hospitalized in Vancouver, Canada since Christmas Eve. Jo had just completed her first semester of a two year acting program in New York and was excited to spend Christmas with her parents and siblings on a once in a life-time snowboarding trip in Whistler, Canada. However, on her third day at the resort (December 24th) Jo had a catastrophic fall while snowboarding, and sustained a spinal cord injury to her neck. She was rushed to Vancouver General Hospital by helicopter and went through a 4-hour surgery to stabilize her neck. Jo spent nearly a week in ICU and has since been moved to the VGH Spinal Ward to continue her recovery. Jo is presently unable to move her arms and legs but in the last few days has been allowed to swallow pureed food. As of right now, we do not know what Jo’s condition will be with time but what is beyond evident is Jo has an incredible strength, a fighter spirit, and positive outlook that will pull her through. This amazing strength is also reflected in her siblings, Jessica and Jamie. As her parents, myself and her dad, Kevin, we will remain by her side through the process.
We really need your support right now. Jo did not have travel insurance when she came to Canada, and her hospital bills are mounting. We are solely concerned about Jo receiving the care she needs, and we will do all that we can to ensure she gets the best care. However we cannot deny that, these costs will be incredibly large. The cost of Jo’s hospital room (without the costs of doctors, medications etc..) is already over $200,000. What we need the most is the freedom to be able to focus on supporting and caring for our daughter. As well as the increasing medical bills, Jo will need medical modifications to her home with us in California and transport for when she is released from rehabilitation in Santa Clara.
The journey ahead of our family is a difficult one, and we are beyond grateful for our friends and family in the United States, United Kingdom and Canada that have been so supportive!
A donation, no matter what size, would make a profound difference to our family. Thank you so much for any help that you can give.
What You Can Do:
1. Donate through the Donate button on this page
2. Share this campaign, as well
Please take five minutes out of your day to share Jo's story to as many people as possible. A quick email or a post on Facebook will make all the difference in creating a successful fundraising campaign for Jo!
Organizer
Tricia Lawrence
Organizer
Sunnyvale, CA
