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Help Hope Live for Mclaren Slifer

Mclaren dove into a wave… something we’ve all done at one time or another at the beach.

On July 4, in South Bethany with friends, Mac dove into a wave. He has no recollection of hitting anything, no scraps or bruises but he knew instantly, something was wrong. He held his breath as his friends realized he was injured and helped him from the water.

Updates (18)

May 26, 2026

We have a pretty exciting week ahead! Caelie is graduating High School and we all will be heading to the stadium (weather permitting) to witness the last Slifer exit the West Chester Area School District! Mac is going. This will be huge. This will be hard. There is no hiding out on this one. We’re not sure where to sit because obviously his chair won’t go up into the stands and that means we're on the ground level IN the walkway. This is going to be a tough outing for Mac… out in public… and at his old high school.We are also going out to eat later in the day. This will be our first time out hoping that all the accessible things are actually accessible. You don’t really know until you need to know.Mac has gotten together with some of his friends recently as everyone is getting home from school (this makes me so happy) but beach trips are happening and this will be a hard summer of missing out and the 4th of July will never ever be the same. I’m trying to think of something we can do that may make the day/weekend easier for all of us.Mac is really looking forward to getting back to therapy. His leg spasticity has been a huge challenge during our time off for nerve transfer recovery. We do leg mobility every morning but as the day wears on spasticity kicks in. Sometimes to the point of making his neck sore. Everything above his injury is connected. Everything below his injury is connected. So even a big breath in can trigger his legs to start jumping about, the same way movement of his legs can trigger his abs to engage and up the chain it goes to his neck. Can’t wait to get back into therapy and get his body more movement than we are able to at home. I’m thinking I may try to empty out my office to create a work out space for him with a big raised mat he can stretch and practice mobility. The hospital bed doesn’t cut it. And hopefully!!! we finally get an insurance approval for the RTI FES Stim bike. The final determination should come in the next 45 days. 6 months too long in my opinion, insurance has really failed on this one so far. (UHC)A couple weeks ago we visited Stand Strong Gym and its owner Matt Helm. Mac was impressed that it was a regular gym. And seems game to using the gym as a supplement to his therapy. As for therapy, we have some catching up to do. I think a lot of Mac's progress from the previous months of therapy will have be be regained from the nerve transfer recovery and us just not having access or the ability to do as much with him at home. But I have no doubt, starting June 1 Mac will put in the work!We are still going to seek getting into the NVG-291 trial that is supposed to happen this summer, but know nothing of the logistics The last one was in Chicago.We still need to add access to our house, finish up his master suite now that we know a bit more of how we need to use it, and we have Stand Strong Gym goals and another gym in NJ PowerWalk that has some interesting mobility options and solutions we want to check out.  We are always learning, will forever be adapting, and always seeking inclusion. As always keep sending us all the love and light. While the initial trauma maybe fading (just a little) and life certainly keeps moving on (without us, it feels, sometimes). Please keep sending all the love and light, our journey is still only just beginning.XOXOXTeam Slifer (Melissa#ExpectNotOneMiracleButMany#BentNotBroken#teamSlifer#StrongMF#SpinalCordInjuryAwareness

May 6, 2026

9 months.  It’s been 9 months since Mac’s injury. It feels like a lifetime. But I still get caught in moments where it feels like yesterday… and my stomach drops.. and I can’t breathe. 9 months and it sort of feels like everyone (drs/therapists etc.) is speaking to us like this is the inevitable. this is it. this is all we get back.In one breath you have to start embracing the acceptance so you can make good sound decisions for best outcomes going forward and in another.. just give his body another day and there will be something new.. another connection.. some new hope for a better outcome. We are in all these spaces at any moment on everyday.April 9, just 8 months post injury, Mac had posterior deltoid to tricep transfer of nerve on both arms. Nerve transfers offer the most success if done prior to the 1 year post injury mark. Due to a cancellation on the surgeons schedule. We are well ahead of that deadline and I chose to view that as a sign of good things to come The incisions, about 7-8 inches on the back of his arms are healing well. They are itchy in spaces he’s not sure he can feel and feel weird to touch/itch which is frustrating. We have the highest hopes that those nerves will dig in and grow to empower and power his triceps. Having working triceps will offer a HUGE gain in independence. Being able to self transfer (moving himself from bed to chair for example) is one of our main hopes. We have 6 months (October) to wait to start seeing some results and then the BIG WORK begins.Mac is cleared to get back to his therapies with some minor restrictions for his triceps for a little while. We start back June 1. It will be good to get back on a bit of a routine. Mac has been enjoying his leisurely recovery days ;) But his leg spasticity has definitely gotten a bit worse with the lack of outlet that therapy offers. He’s looking forward to getting back on the RT Stim bike (insurance has denied us 2x and we’re going for a 3rd appeal) to get one for at home. It would have been HUGE to have access to that while his arms have been recovering. Might have also helped us avoid an ER trip. The stim is such an amazing tool for a paralyzed body that can’t use and maintain its muscles in a typical way. Ironically, the ER trip probably cost what the bike would. Also note: the ER does NOT take Autonomic Dysreflexia in SCI seriously enough. Now I know better, next time this mama will be ROARING!Next up --I’ve reached out to a couple of other facilities that offer adaptive workouts and rehabs and i’m hoping to get some of those sessions on the books for this summer too. These will all be pay to play and your generous donations will help get him there... in addition to some additional renovations that still need to be done to the house.Mac is still not ready to head back out into the world and back to his friends but i’m hopeful time will get him there. (Friends, Don’t give up on him- keep sending him messages)This week OUR TEAM celebrated so much! Jaiden Graduated with honors from the School of Computer Sciences at University of PittsburghCaelie had her Senior Prom and committed to attending University of Pittsburgh in the FallMac celebrated his 20th birthday. Never one to be the center of attention -A low key meal from Oriental Peal and his fav Wegmans Chocolate cake with just us.I never in a million years thought i’d have it so shoved in my face to be so damn grateful that he made it to his 20th. Everyday is a gift. He is as perfect now as he was the day he was born.And my Birthday Wish for him is to keep finding hope & reconnection in this year ahead. Mclaren Cruz has always done it his own way (so stubborn) and at his own pace. I have to trust his soul is taking care of him.XOXOXO Team Slifer  (Melissa)#ExpectNotOneMiracleButMany#BentNotBroken#teamSlifer#StrongMF#SpinalCordInjuryAwareness

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Guestbook

June 1, 2026

Thinking of you alwsys and keeping you in out prayers.

Susan shelton

susan shelton

May 15, 2026

Melissa, keeping you and your family in my prayers.

Melissa DeFreece

April 17, 2026

Slifer strong!!

Elise Cooper