Jessica Mitcham’s life was forever changed on July 2, 2007 when she was the victim of gun violence and became quadriplegic (paralyzed in all four extremities). After months in a rehabilitation facility, she came home where her family – especially her mother – help her to remain as independent as possible. Jessica is a bright beacon of hope for her friends and family, recently finishing her Associate’s degree and now working toward a Bachelor’s degree at UMUC! She can often be found soaking up the sun on summer days.

Living with quadriplegia is expensive, and many things are not covered by traditional insurances, such as: wheelchair vans and repairs; some medication co-pays; dental and vision care; certain medical equipment costs necessary for comfort and rehabilitation; and emergency caregiver expenses.