Laurina Florio

Atlanta, GA

Southeast Catastrophic Injury Fund

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HOW MUCH DOES A SPINAL CORD INJURY COST!

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In honor of Laurina Florio

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2 Radnor Corporate Center
Suite 100
100 Matsonford Road
Radnor, PA 19087

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My Original Story 2018

It could have been any one of us.

On July 8th, 2017, Laurina was boasting to her family that she planned to dance all night long at her cousins wedding in Cincinnati. And, she did just that.

A mere 48 hours later, on July 10th, she was back in Atlanta, back to her beautiful home and her fulfilling job, doing what she always does after work…ride her bike. Riding was her way of relaxing her body, mind, and spirit and simply recharging.

On her ride that evening, it was a simple left turn, too much loose gravel in the middle of the street and a cruel fate that caused the back tire of Laurina’s bike to slide out from under her and she crashed to the ground. But, in this instance, what would have been a messy “wipe out” left her paralyzed and changed, forever. Laurina would not return home again for eight months.

The Adventure

Laurina was taken to Grady Hospital where her MRI showed an acute traumatic fracture to her cervical 5th and 6th vertebrae, which led to emergency spinal surgery and two weeks in ICU. From there, she was admitted to Shepherd Spinal Center where she received intensive inpatient Physical Therapy and Outpatient Therapy for eight months.

Upon her discharge from Shepherd Spinal Center in a new power wheelchair, Laurina’s home could no longer accommodate her. Fortunately, she had dear friends (turned family) gracious enough to open their handicap-accessible home to her as she continued the grueling work of outpatient physical therapy. It wasn’t until five months later that she returned to her home where she was reunited with her longtime companion, Kai, her Siberian Husky.

Today, Laurina remains paralyzed from the chest down, with only partial use of her hands. Now, a year later, she continues to be the consummate fighter. With unwavering resolve she spends her days developing creative solutions to the challenges of being paralyzed and navigating a partially independent life. Without a part-time in-home caregiver, friends (turned family), and Becky, her amazing partner, none of these triumphs would have been possible.

Laurina Tells Us How She Feels:

I feel both sad and angry. At times, really, really friggin’ sad and really friggin angry! But I won’t let my life be stolen from me. Clearly, I have to modify my activities but I’ll be damned if I’ll let the things in life that bring me pleasure get ripped away from me.

At times, I am terrified. Terrified that friends will go away; that I’ll be forgotten; that the cost for health insurance and medical treatment will be more than I can afford and that I’ll have insufficient healthcare and die a sickly death, alone.

I also feel terrified that I won’t have a caregiver like the one I have now; and that maintaining my home will be too costly – more than I can manage – and I’ll lose it; my sanctuary, the last piece of the original “me” that exists.

But, more often, I feel grateful to have such great friends who have rallied around me. They’re giving me unending love and encouragement that is getting me through each day, week, month and the past year…

But…the real adventure has just begun

A friend described what Laurina’s new life is all about and this is how she phrased it: “She’s re-inventing herself and her life from the inside out.”

There are still countless hurdles to overcome. For our fiercely independent Laurina, the time has come for our dear friend, colleague and teammate to exercise a new muscle; being strong enough to ask for your help.

These are four things that she needs most:

• The Consistent use of therapeutic equipment that will let her reach her goal of walking again

• To regain her independence and autonomy

• The ability to participate in the many activities she enjoys like visiting friends, walking her dog, feeding the wild birds in her yard, gardening and kayaking

• Check in to see how she’s doing…on the phone or pay her a visit. If she’s feeling up to it, she’d love the company!

These are the priceless ways your contribution can help make a difference:

• Home Modifications

Modification to her bathroom and kitchen that will make a significant difference in the quality of her daily life. These enhancements will enable her to prepare meals for herself as well as bathe herself.

• Van Modifications ($5,000):

Laurina has just completed her driving evaluation and is looking forward to being able to have her van modified so she can drive, independently. The modifications, although expensive, will be recouped as they will eliminate some of the costs and efforts related to having others drive her to the grocery store, doctor and physical therapy appointments, etc.

• The Purchase of a RT300 FES SL Leg Cycle ($12,000):

This device gets her legs moving. It promotes circulation in the legs and helps reduce muscle spasms in Laurina’s legs, which often keep her up at night. This cycle also enhances mobility when she does transfers from bed to chair or from chair to car, which keeps her safer.

• The Purchase of a Standing Frame ($2,900):

When Laurina is securely strapped into this piece of equipment, it gradually assists her body in achieving a standing position. It’s crucial for her recovery because by bearing weight on her legs, it encourages her muscles to kick in. This is one of her best opportunities to regain some movement, so that she will eventually be able to walk.

A Note from Laurina’s Village

We are Laurina’s village and we have a deep stake in her life. By sharing her story with you, we are asking you to recognize an uncomfortable truth: this could have happened to any one of us. By giving to Laurina, we acknowledge the powerlessness of life and see that randomness does not discriminate. By giving to our dear Laurina in her time of need, we each get a chance to participate in restoring the life that she loves. And, for us, we can find grace in making peace with a new normal.

With grace and love,

Becky, Kelly, Jill, Kim, Robin, Caryn

Please follow your heart to Help Hope Live:

www.hopehelplive.org

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Help Hope Live is a 501(c)(3) organization that distributes funds strictly to pay for Laurina’s medical necessities, such as van modifications, medicine, rehabilitation and caregivers. Your contributions are tax deductible

July 11, 2022

Dear, Family and Friends:

After the 5th anniversary of my accident, I want to share some terrific news!

The home modifications that your donations to my fundraiser made possible are complete. Thanks to you, aspects of my daily life have become a lot easier. I now have a bathroom I can turn around in without banging up the walls and the vanity, not to mention my toes; a shower that I can roll into, safely in a shower chair; and I can roll under the sink/vanity to brush my teeth and wash my hands. We’ve also added doors in the back bedroom which provide an egress at the rear of the house. I will be able to roll out on the deck, to a mechanical lift, which will lower me down to the yard where I can get away from the house in case of an emergency.

I’m extremely grateful for your donations, as these home modifications will ease the challenges and stress of my daily routine activities. I feel very fortunate to have you in my life to help make all of this possible!

I’ve attached a few pictures to bring it all to life for you. Thank you for your ongoing kindness, compassion, love and support.

All my love,

Laurina

July 2, 2021

My dearest family and friends,

It is hard to believe that July 10, 2021 marks four years since my cycling accident resulting in a catastrophic spinal cord injury. I was (and still am) shocked and devastated by the cruel unpredictability of life. And, although it may seem like time has flown, it hasn’t for me. It has been a grueling 1,460 days and I would not have been able to get this far without your unwavering love and support.

You may recall that when the accident first happened - and for the following two years, I was confident I would walk again. I had overcome so many other challenges in my life, why would this be any different? I’m sad as I remember believing that there was absolutely no way in hell that four years later, I would be writing a second correspondence to you from a wheelchair.

I am dismayed to report that despite relentless optimism, and physical therapy, I have not regained mobility. I am still in denial that I am permanently paralyzed. Every July 10, I am reminded of how unpredictable life really is.

I come to you today with a long overdue update and to share the pressing challenges of my new life. Your past financial support enabled me to purchase a standing frame (a crucial rehabilitative tool that has numerous benefits for me including reducing leg spasms, improving lung function, and aiding in blood circulation); fund my caregivers for three months, and pay off several large medical bills (a huge stress relief). There are no words to express my gratitude.

In March of 2018, when I was finally able to return to my home and a modicum of independence, Becky and our friend, Lloyd built a temporary ramp making it possible for me to enter and exit the house so I could live in my home. The other elements of living in the house were extremely challenging but doable. Now, nearly four years later, although my physical condition has changed very little, my aging body is noticeably deteriorating with a completely sedentary lifestyle. The time has come for me to make some significant modifications to my home which will ensure my safety and help ease my daily challenges. The planned renovation would enable me to do the things that most people take for granted. As I write this, access to my shower or the sink to brush my teeth is a Herculean feat. There is also a great need for an exterior door and a mechanical lift to create an egress in the back of the house so I can get out safely in case of fire.

Just the thought of being able to safely exit the house and having a padded shower chair so I can gently roll into the shower without aggravating the subluxation in my left hip, causing it to spasm and making it worse, would make a significant difference in my daily life. Now, those are things to get excited about.

Of course, there have been additional setbacks. A friend who was temporarily storing several of my rehabilitation tools experienced a garage fire where all of my things were destroyed. It seems, I will also need surgery on my hip and I hope to travel to Colorado to the world-renowned Craig Hospital which specializes in rehabilitating spinal cord injury patients for a fresh set of eyes to evaluate my current physical situation.

I am not giving up.

Although plans for this renovation are in the works, of course, Covid has changed everything. The cost of the renovation to bring these life-changing modifications to my life are now ten times more expensive due to material costs and shipping delays. All of this is overwhelming but I know that although there are so many unimaginable challenges, love and support for my family and friends keeps me going.

Over these four years, I have reaffirmed that life is all about relationships and I am so fortunate to have really good friends and profoundly deep relationships that mean everything. I have also been blessed with an amazing life partner, Becky, who has relentlessly stood by my side every step of the way of this horror. When I hear of friends planning cycling trips, like I once did, I can be disheartened, but thanks to Becky, I can now kayak in a kayak that she adapted for me, allowing me the freedom to get on the water and back to nature. Becky is the constant reminder that life is good and I am miraculously still here.

Don’t get me wrong, I get really, really down sometimes. But I have resolved to squeeze as much life out of each day that I can get. Whether, it is watching a blue bird make a nest, or enjoying conversation and a meal on the porch with friends, these are the moments that bring me great joy. These are the moments that bring sparkles to my life.

Now, that I have caught you up with what’s going on with me, I am hopeful that you will be in a position to support me, again in my ongoing pursuit for quality of life, through my second fundraising campaign. My goal is to raise at least $56,000 to help cover renovation costs, as well as on going medical expenses. Please follow your heart to donate.

It has taken me some time to accept that the accident could have left me in an even worse condition; it could have killed me. So, I remain grateful to be here to experience all that I can with each of you. Thank you for being a member of my chosen family.

Enjoy your summer and please embrace the sparkles.

All my love,

Laurina