Chris Nance- An Unexpected Journey
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On January 31, 2015 my brother, Chris Nance's life, and that of his family, was forever transformed. He was always an avid lover of Gasperilla. As Tampa natives, it has been a Nance family tradition for decades...he never missed the chance to be a Pirate for the day!! A lover of the water, the ocean, the sun and the sand...Chris would never pass up a chance to combine his two favorite past times...A great pirate costume and a boat!!
Dusk on January 31, 2015 quickly changed the day for this boat full of pirates. Any friend of Chris's would tell you that he is a clown..always goofing off and getting a smile from his audience...Dressed in full pirate costume, he dove off of a pier in the bay and was not aware of the sand bank that changed his destiny.
When Chris's brother and cousin realized he wasn't playing around, they were quick to his rescue. Face down in the ocean and not moving..everyone realized something serious had occurred. He was unaware, in shock perhaps, but still joking around with his mates. It took the EMT over an hour to respond and his friends and family did their best to keep him warm in the freezing water he was forced to stay in.
By boat (ironically) they transported him to TGH where we learned of the severe neck trauma that resulted in damage to his spine from C5-T1. They were not overly positive of where things would go from there.
A fighter, a lover of life and above all else a provider for his 6 year old daughter Lily and his beautiful partner Amanda, he fought hard...he accomplished the un-accomplishable. He underwent 2 intense 6-hour neck surgeries and came out of each one talking and somehow never losing his sense of humor. He defied every expectation the neurological team had.
Now the true journey begins. His diagnosis currently is he is paralyzed from the chest down. Chris has movement in his arms, but not his hands yet. No movement in his lower body or legs...but his will is unbeatable and we all are standing by him to help him make a full recovery despite any "diagnoses" from his doctors.
The best facility to help him is in Atlanta GA. We have been told his best care and chance to show the world his comeback will come with the care and equipment they can offer. We, as a family, are working so hard to help him not only emotionally but also financially. His wife and daughter will need to be able to travel back and forth, to spend 3 weeks there to attend the family counseling, to afford the changes that will need to be made to his home, his vehicle and so many other unforeseen expenses that they are incurring during this trying time.
Chris is a fighter and he has shown more courage in this past 18 days than most will ever have to muster up in their entire lives. We are asking for help, prayers and positive energy to be showered over Chris and his entire family. We have a facebook page as well where you can post words of encouragement, funny memories and show your support as well as follow this remarkable man on his unexpected journey.
Thank you.
Dusk on January 31, 2015 quickly changed the day for this boat full of pirates. Any friend of Chris's would tell you that he is a clown..always goofing off and getting a smile from his audience...Dressed in full pirate costume, he dove off of a pier in the bay and was not aware of the sand bank that changed his destiny.
When Chris's brother and cousin realized he wasn't playing around, they were quick to his rescue. Face down in the ocean and not moving..everyone realized something serious had occurred. He was unaware, in shock perhaps, but still joking around with his mates. It took the EMT over an hour to respond and his friends and family did their best to keep him warm in the freezing water he was forced to stay in.
By boat (ironically) they transported him to TGH where we learned of the severe neck trauma that resulted in damage to his spine from C5-T1. They were not overly positive of where things would go from there.
A fighter, a lover of life and above all else a provider for his 6 year old daughter Lily and his beautiful partner Amanda, he fought hard...he accomplished the un-accomplishable. He underwent 2 intense 6-hour neck surgeries and came out of each one talking and somehow never losing his sense of humor. He defied every expectation the neurological team had.
Now the true journey begins. His diagnosis currently is he is paralyzed from the chest down. Chris has movement in his arms, but not his hands yet. No movement in his lower body or legs...but his will is unbeatable and we all are standing by him to help him make a full recovery despite any "diagnoses" from his doctors.
The best facility to help him is in Atlanta GA. We have been told his best care and chance to show the world his comeback will come with the care and equipment they can offer. We, as a family, are working so hard to help him not only emotionally but also financially. His wife and daughter will need to be able to travel back and forth, to spend 3 weeks there to attend the family counseling, to afford the changes that will need to be made to his home, his vehicle and so many other unforeseen expenses that they are incurring during this trying time.
Chris is a fighter and he has shown more courage in this past 18 days than most will ever have to muster up in their entire lives. We are asking for help, prayers and positive energy to be showered over Chris and his entire family. We have a facebook page as well where you can post words of encouragement, funny memories and show your support as well as follow this remarkable man on his unexpected journey.
Thank you.
Organizer
Sarah Zeller Opliger
Organizer
Plant City, FL
