Mary is very special. She endured years of physical abuse and finally found the courage to leave and remove her children from a horrible environment knowing she would lose everything. And she did. She got a job at Original Cookie Co/Mrs Fields Cookies and was known at the Great Lakes Mall in Mentor as the “cookie lady” for 32 years. She would do and has done everything for her family. She took care of her mother after a debilitating stroke and has done and would do absolutely anything for her daughters.

In 2015, Mary was recovering from a MRSA infection that spread through her spinal cord after having a hysterectomy. An arachnoid cyst formed in the scar tissue on her spinal cord. She had 3 surgeries to attempt removal and the last one left her paralyzed from the waist down. She spent months in rehab that first year but she had no feeling or movement.

A paraplegic with a weakened immune system, she started 2021 with Covid and was sent home from the hospital with a stage 4 pressure ulcer. She developed osteomyelitis and went into septic shock. She miraculously recovered and after 16 weeks on IV antibiotics to clear the infection, her daughter noticed she had movement. Together they realized she could bare weight and stand with assistance. Mary wants to walk again, her neurologist is recommending aggressive physical therapy which her insurance will not cover more than one visit per week.

Donations would help with uncovered medical costs and to give her the only chance to stand, maybe even take steps again. She needs equipment in the home to build strength. Specifically an FES bike by Myolyn. You can read about the proven benefits here myolyn.com to understand why this would be life changing for Mary.

With the caregiver shortage since Covid, it would help pay for private care when time off is needed for insurance provided caregivers. It would also help her daughter that does assist in her care continue working.

The average cost per year for paraplegia after insurance is $69,000 each year.

Our goal is high and literally any amount donated will help.

Any donation is appreciated and needed to live her life to her fullest potential and to finally get that break she has never gotten.

Mary Zagar is humbly asking her friends and family to help raise money for the nonprofit Help Hope Live to fund uninsured medical expenses associated with Catastrophic Illness.

Mary has chosen to fundraise for Help Hope Live in part because Help Hope Live assures fiscal accountability of funds raised and tax deductibility for contributors. Contributors can be sure donations will be used to pay or reimburse medical and related expenses. To make a tax-deductible donation to this fundraising campaign, click on the Give button.

For more information, please contact Help Hope Live at 800.642.8399.

Thank you for your support!