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The Encouraging Story of A Little Good Luck
by: Geoff Folsom - Disabled West Richland Air Force Veteran Wins New Van
The Story of Susan Kirsch is one that can give hope to many that live in a situation very similar to hers. After suffering a spinal cord injury and then later being further injured in a car accident, the trials and pain were much to bear. But these were even further magnified by her son being injured in a football accident which left him with sever pain and immobility. Susan entered a drawing for a new van that would be modified for handicap accessibility and won! What a blessing for her family! To read a little bit more about her story visit the link below:
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2014/11/13/3258266/disabled-west-richland-air-force.html
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Juan, 47 years old, was injured in September, 2013 when he fell from a roof. He spent 6 months in the hospital and finally came home unable to move below his neck and using a ventilator to breathe.
Prior to December 16, Jua n's caretakers had to lift him in their arms to move him. We were thrilled to present Juan with a power hoyer lift so that his family and caretakers could move him easily from place to place.
Juan is pictured with his wife, 2 month old grandson, his caretaker and son-in-law. His family said it was the best Christmas present they ever received.
When asked what else Juan wishes for, he said a "Superman wheelchair" which they explained to us meant a power wheelchair like the one used by Christopher Reeve. Juan currently has a manual wheelchair that he can't use on his own. We'll be working on getting Juan into a Superman chair next year.
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Some of the People We Have
Been Helping!
Michael B., age 57, is living with paraplegia due to a non traumatic spinal cord injury. He recently needed to move from a manual wheelchair into a power wheelchair and his home was not fully accessible for the larger power chair. Neuro Assistance widened his bathroom doorway, helped to remove carpeting and install new flooring and provided two ramps. Michael discharged home in December and is able to access all parts of his home now.
James G., age 39, was hit by a truck and suffered an L1 spinal cord injury resulting in paraplegia. James had a friend who could build a wheelchair ramp on his home but needed help purchasing the lumber and supplies. We were glad to provide the supplies for a large ramp in his garage and another on the front of his home. James discharged from rehab in December and is now back at home in Garland.
Julius F., age 23, lives in Grand Prairie. Julius was hit by a semi truck while he was walking and suffered multiple fractures and a C4 spinal cord injury resulting in tetraplegia. Julius needed a heavy duty ramp on the front of his home to be able to enter in his power wheelchair. A wooden ramp would have worked but Julius and his family thought they might be moving to a different and more accessible home in the near future so it was imperative that he should have a movable ramp. NAF provided a heavy duty metal ramp which can be removed and taken with him when he moves. Julius went home from rehab in November.
Edward H., age 61, is coping with Guillain Barre Syndrome which is a spinal cord disease. This disease has progressed to the point where Edward is living with tetraplegia. Edward's case manager contacted NAF to see if we could build a wheelchair ramp on the front of his home in Dallas. We were proud to build the ramp for Edward so that he can get back in his home from rehab.
Truett M., age 55, was in need of a power wheelchair when NAF was lucky enough to receive a Permobil C300 which was donated to NAF in mid-December. The wheelchair was located near Frisco and with the help of a truck and two movers, donated by C & R Medical, we were able to pick up the donated wheelchair and get it to the rehab facility before Truett discharged so that his therapists could fit it to him and get additional accessories he needed. Truett received the wheelchair right before Christmas.
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University of Texas at Arlington- Scholarships for those with Spinal Cord Injuries and Birth Defects
The University of Texas at Arlington is paving a path towards independence for those who are born with birth defects or have suffered a spinal cord injury. The Craig H. Neilsen Foundation has committed $131,000 towards scholarships to cover books, tuition, fees, and supplies for the 2014-2015 academic year. But this isn't all! The foundation has also set aside $75,000 towards barriers for the applicant receivers.
To read more about what UTA is doing to further independence for their students read the article below.
UTA Scholarship
If you would like to read more about the Craig H. Neilsen Foundation and what they do visit their website:
http://chnfoundation.org/
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Statistics and Facts About Spinal Cord Injuries
Taken From: Walking With Anthony
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Walking With Anthony is an organization with a mission to forever change the recovery outcome of spinal cord injury, currently perceived as unchangeable.
* Nearly 1 out of every 50 Americans (or 6 million people) live with paralysis
Source: ChristopherReeve.org
* Every 49 minutes, a spinal cord injury occurs
Source: NeuRE.com
* According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the top causes of spinal cord injuries are:
Working Accident (28%), Motor Vehicle Accident (24%), Sporting and Recreation (16%), Fall (9%)
Source: http://www.cdc.gov/
* The average cost of expenses for an individual with a serious spinal cord injury in the first year ranges
from over $228,00 to over $775,000
Source: ChristopherReeve.org
* Over 80% of all individuals with a spinal cord injury are male
Source: SCI-Info-Pages.com
* The median days hospitalized in the acute care unit at a Model System for an individual who has
suffered a spinal cord injury has declined from 24 days in the 1973-1979 period to 12 days in the more
recent period of 2005-2008
Source: National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center in Birmingham, Alabama
* Children make up 5% of all individuals with a spinal cord injury
Source: CatastrophicInjury.com
Visit their website for more information
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A Great Big THANK YOU to our supporter
C & R Medical
NAF received some large and wonderful donations in December and the donors needed the items picked up right away. We received a donation of a queen sized power bed and mattress from a donor in Dallas and a Permobil C300 power wheelchair from a donor in Frisco. As we don't have a truck or van large enough to pick up these items, we contacted C & R Medical for help. They didn't hesitate to send a large truck and 2 men across the metroplex to pick up and deliver the donations for us. We are so grateful to C & R Medical as they are always ready to lend us a helping hand. Please remember to use C & R Medical whenever you need medical supplies to show them how grateful we all are!
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Handy
Resources For Those With Medical Needs
NeedyMeds is a non-profit organization, founded in 1997 as a resource for people who need help with the cost of medicine.
NeedyMeds is an online resource which can help those in need find medications and resources at little to no cost. The great thing about the resource is the opportunity to find new, experimental, and safe drugs for an affordable price.
Take a look at their brochure to get a little bit of easy to gather information on what exactly NeedyMeds can help you find.
You can also visit their website to start diving into the research. Find a way to get the medications you need for a discounted rate, should you qualify. Or Perhaps you would like to see what scholarships or financial aid is available to, based on your diagnosis. The wealth of information on this site is unbelievable and you are sure to find something to meet your needs. Good Luck!
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Movies...Are the Characters Always PERFECT??
Tell me, how often do you want to watch a fun movie, a dramatic movie, a unique movie, but they all seem to have the same cliche, and perfect characters? It almost seems that no one in Hollywood recognizes the disabled world. Reality is, that there is a huge percentage of the population that lives with a disability. Thankfully, there are actually a good deal of movies with characters that live with disabilities. Check out the list attached and watch some movies you may not have seen before!
To the left: Picture from Movie Waterdance
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A Wish List for Neuro Assistance Foundation
- Cargo/Commercial Van to pick up equipment
- Used Wheelchair Vans/Vehicles
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Sports Equipment for Paraplegics and Quadriplegics; Made Possible!
The Kelly Brush Foundation Individual Grant Program awards grants to individuals with paralysis due to a spinal cord injury (SCI). The purpose of the individual grant program is to increase participation in adaptive sports and recreation activitie s and improve the quality of life for individuals living with SCI. The individual grant program allows economicallydisadvantaged individuals with SCI to purchase adaptive sporting equipments such as a mono ski or a hand cycle. In order for an individual to qualify for the grant he or she must be living in the United States and must supply the Foundation with information about their spinal cord injury, details on their source of income, and a description of the type of equipment they are seeking.
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We Need Your Help
Donate ~ Sponsor ~ Volunteer
Change lives; make a difference.
Your $25 donation will help provide clean catheters to a paralyzed child for one month when their insurance won't cover the expense.
Your $100 donation will help build a wheelchair ramp so we can get our clients out of rehab and through their front door at home.
Your $200 donation will help widen the doorways in their homes so their wheelchair can fit through the bathroom door. Insurance doesn't covers home modifications.
Your $500 donation will help provide life-changing medical equipment: wheelchairs and specialized shower chairs, etc. Most insurance only covers a small part of wheelchairs, if any, and no "bathing aids" are covered.
No donation is too small. Click here for information.
www.neuroassistance.org
Contact: Cindi Cooperman [email protected]
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Support Our Sponsors
NAF has some of the most amazing sponsors in the world. Because of their generosity, we are able to help so many people with life changing injuries. Please remember them when you're shopping or choosing services.
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