Lauren Shmalo Berg, an active, vibrant mother of 2, suffered a severe C3 spinal cord injury October 2020 that left her paralyzed from the neck down. After CPR, weeks in the ICU, multiple surgeries and 3 1/2 months at the Shepherd Institute in Atlanta, Lauren is finally returning home to her husband, Justin, her 6 month old son, Isaac, and her 2 1/2 year old daughter, Lia, and her family and friends. Since, Oct. 4th, due to the Covid pandemic, Lauren has only been able to be with her husband, Justin.
Prior to the accident, Lauren was an accomplished singer and dancer in musical theatre productions, a figure skater who choreographed ice shows, taught Pilates and Zumbini, and was a pre K teacher. Lauren was the ultimate cheerleader to her friends and her students. There are people from all walks of life that will tell you that Lauren never met a stranger. Anyone who ever met her remembers her, but it wasn’t always about what she said or did, but about how she made them feel. One thing is certain, Lauren has been and will continue to be a motivating inspiration to others.
Lauren continues to face her recovery the same way she’s has faced everything else in her life: with a big smile, fierce determination, and unwavering optimism. She is feeling sensations all throughout her body and has regained some movement in her limbs. Back at home in Cincinnati, her husband, her family and her friends have helped non-stop with childcare, oversaw the reconfiguration of her home with handicap accessible updates throughout. Doctors, nurses, therapists and aides have been hired to assist this young family. Much of what has been done in preparation for her return and continued recovery is considered uninsured medical expense.
Now she needs our help. All this comes at an exorbitant price as Lauren’s journey to recovery continues. Please consider making a tax deductible donation to Help Hope Live in honor of Lauren Berg, to help alleviate the extreme financial burden and stress her injury and recovery has had on her family. All contributions are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law and are held for Lauren’s uninsured medical and injury related expenses.
Helphopelive.org is a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit with a perfect rating by Charity Navigator. Help Hope Live assures fiscal accountability of funds raised and tax deductibility. HHL has been around for nearly 40 years financially assisting patients, through fundraising, with uninsured medical and injury related expenses from organ transplants, catastrophic illness, brain and spinal cord injuries.
To make a tax-deductible donation to this fundraising campaign, click on the Give button.
Checks can be mailed to Help Hope Live with In honor of Lauren Berg in the Memo to:
Help Hope Live
2 Radnor Corporate Center, Suite 100
100 Matsonford Road, Radnor, PA 19087
For more information, please contact Help Hope Live at 800.642.8399.
Thank you for your support!
