Determination, Community Support, and Hope: Cynthia’s Story

Cynthia Noonan started fundraising with Help Hope Live in 2009 to offset extensive out-of-pocket costs associated with a 2007 spinal cord injury.

In 2024, she became a client Ambassador, helping other SCI families to discover our trusted medical fundraising platform.

We asked Cynthia about life with sudden quadriplegia, fundraising, and what hope means to her 18 years after injury.

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The Day My Life Changed

I went from a completely healthy and active 34-year-old woman to a C5-level quadriplegic in about 4 hours.

On September 27, 2007, I was diagnosed with a rare auto-immune disease called transverse myelitis that led to a cervical spinal cord injury.

Before my diagnosis, I was working for the ALS Association as the Associate Director. I had just gotten married less than a year before the injury took place.

In my downtime, I was very active, often riding my bike or walking to and from work, up and down the San Francisco hills. I loved doing yoga, hiking, spin classes—you name it.

Three months before my injury occurred, I had run my first half-marathon and completed a 3-day backpacking trip in the Cascade mountain range with my husband, Trevor.

After my injury, I had to stop working and devote all the energy I had to physical and occupational therapy.

I was determined right from the beginning, so I threw myself into therapy and worked hard to create a life that I could feel proud of.

Trevor and I started traveling from San Francisco to Baltimore for 2 to 3 weeks of intensive therapy at a time at the International Center for Spinal Cord Injury. I repeated that trip every 6 months for 2 years.

Trevor was my rock from the very beginning. His devotion to me and my rehabilitation was and is unwavering.

Our immediate family all lives quite far from us, so he became my primary caregiver, supporting and helping me navigate the profound challenges one faces when becoming disabled—not to mention what that meant for our relationship and future together.

Life After Injury

Over time, we moved across the bay to Berkeley, and I began taking writing classes and participating with a local adaptive sports and recreation facility.

I started out in their cycling program, then became a board member, and finally became an employee managing their fitness and SCI outreach program.

In 2011, I applied for my first service dog through Canine Companions, and on February 14, 2014, I graduated with Freckle by my side. Her presence brought immense joy, independence, and emotional comfort into my life. Saying goodbye to her in May was devastating, and I remain forever grateful to her puppy raisers and to Canine Companions for the gift of her companionship.

While I had quite a bit of professional experience supporting individuals with disabilities related to ALS prior to my injury, I did not have experience with spinal cord injuries.

Today, I continue to pursue a full and engaged life, though I have struggled with depression and anxiety. Losing autonomy and independence is heartbreaking and it can be frustrating to rely on equipment for mobility and rely on other people for tasks I cannot functionally do.

I will always mourn the person I could have been if I didn’t become paralyzed.

However, I am blessed and feel filled with gratitude for all the friends and family members who have lifted me up and supported me through the years.

Why I Started Fundraising with Help Hope Live

I first came to Help Hope Live 2 years after my injury. People continually reached out to me wanting to donate to help me.

That’s when we realized that we needed to have a way for them to give that would be safe and protected.

I chose Help Hope Live because I wanted donors to have the option to make a tax-deductible donation, and I knew the funds raised would be more protected with Help Hope Live than with other fundraising options.

I liked the legitimacy and oversight of the Help Hope Live administrative process.

The Help Hope Live staff has been so helpful over the years with fundraising guidance. I became an Ambassador for Help Hope Live because I wanted to give back and help the community.

I am thrilled to help others in my community connect with this awesome organization.

Travel to and from the rehab center in Baltimore was a big, uncovered cost, but the truth is that there are countless hidden costs that come along with a disability. My secondary health insurance, neurological supplies, and personal attendant care are all costs I had to take on.

Since I don’t qualify for in-home health aides through my state, Help Hope Live fundraising helped me cover that cost as well as care for my service dog. I’ve also been able to seek out alternative therapy, such as acupuncture, through fundraising.

Asking for help is a challenge. I have to give my mom a lot of credit for encouraging me and taking the initiative with fundraising. I have been constantly amazed by and grateful for the generosity of the people in my life who support me.

My advice to anyone starting out with fundraising is to let go of expectations.

Don’t think about who “should” be donating—instead, realize that people will give when and if they can.

Life Changes 17 Years Post-Injury

In the 17-plus years following my injury, I have shifted my focus away from constant physical therapy. I work part-time, but I would love to restore my energy to a level at which I could work even more.

My focus is now on living my life as best I can and contributing to society.

Driving again was one of the most challenging things I’ve done since my injury. I actually won a van in a contest in 2015. It has opened up my independence within the community so much—I always loved to drive.

Learning to drive with the limitations of being a quadriplegic remains challenging to this day for longer distances or windy roads.

Two years ago, I learned about an organization called EmpowerSCI. It looked like an awesome program, so I started following them on Instagram and subscribed to their newsletter. I jumped on the opportunity to get involved in their week-long program in Montana in 2024.

One thing that’s unique about the Empower program is that they provide 24/7 care, so all my attendant’s needs were taken care of. I was able to give my husband, who is my primary caregiver, a reprieve.

Their program encouraged me and other participants to do things outside our comfort zone. Working with them gave me more confidence to embrace challenges more often in daily life.