WHATEVER IT TAKES for Elijah Powell
On May 19, 2020, Elijah Powell was a passenger in a serious car accident.
Updates (5)
March 25, 2024
In July, 2023 Elijah's pressure wound healed after almost 2 years, 3 surgeries and months in the hospital. Due to being on bed rest, he lost a lot of strength and flexibility. Our present goal is to help Elijah get stronger and more healthy. He's had a hard time getting motivated after such a setback.
We were raising funds to get to NextStepOrlando for rehab, but want to shift gears to help Elijah get a little stronger first. We're raising funds toward a custom all-terrain bike. (starting with a Facebook auction) The bike will make PT fun and may give him a little of that feeling of going fast like he used to when he jumped on that skateboard.
Once his wound healed, Elijah said he wanted to get in the ocean. So he did, in an inflatable boat. He rode 3 waves into the shore, and got dumped out of the boat once. He had an amazing time, and so did everyone at the beach watching him. Check out his smile in the campaign album. The surf was so rough that day, and I wished we had someone a few feet taller to take Elijah out past the breaking surf. With that said, I will still drag him out into the ocean as many times as I can stand if given the chance again. The joy on his face that day was worth it.
Elijah deserves a full life. Please contribute to this campaign, and Elijah's quality of life. Consider a recurring gift.
Thank you all.
June 15, 2023
Life has been a rollercoaster since Elijah came home from the hospital on his 19th birthday, September 25th, 2020. The early days of recovery were extremely difficult. Elijah worked hard to gain strength and flexibility doing Physical therapy at The University of Maryland and exercising at home. He graduated High School in 2021, in spite of all of the challenges he faced.
In May 2021, we spent a month in Florida and Elijah attended Next Step Orlando, an amazing outpatient activity based rehabilitation program. On his first day at Next Step he did 4 pullups, and the last day there he was able to do more than 40.
In October 2021, Elijah developed a pressure wound and had the first of three surgeries to heal it. He has spent most of his time on bed rest since then. The last surgery was done in March 2023, when they discovered osteomyelitis (an infection in his bone). He spent several weeks in the hospital treating the infection and has been doing everything he can to heal since then.
During all of this time on bed rest, he lost a lot of strength and flexibility. The pressure wound is almost fully healed, and Elijah is looking forward to getting back to Physical therapy.
We are fundraising now for a trip to Next Step. Therapy sessions are $100/hr, and unfortunately, they aren’t covered by insurance.
Thank you for the love and support we have received over these last few years.
Please consider a donation toward Elijah's therapy at Next Step Orlando. Thank you
Photo Galleries (2)
Guestbook
April 9, 2024
Elijah keep up the fight. Your life might look a little different and your dreams may have changed but you are still here. Find your purpose and run with it. Sending all my love and admiration your way. You are one tough young man!
Lisa Leto
December 1, 2020
Please continue to support Elijah and Ammie!
Debbie Staigerwald
November 14, 2020
God bless you
Cam Ailiff
