Family and friends of Eleanor Shell are raising money for the nonprofit Help Hope Live to fund uninsured medical expenses associated with a Catastrophic Injury. Eleanor has chosen to fundraise with Help Hope Live in part because donations are tax-deductible for contributors and will only be used to cover medical and related expenses.
Writing about yourself to ask for help is hard. But healing—real, sustainable healing—requires honesty, community, and the courage to name what is needed.
My name is Eleanor Shell. I am a mother of three, a community leader, a writer, and a former pastor. In June of 2024, I was struck by a car while walking into a medical appointment and sustained a traumatic brain injury (TBI). While many of my visible injuries have healed, I am still learning to live with the daily, invisible effects of brain injury. Recovery is possible, but it is slow, non‑linear, and comes with significant ongoing costs.
Who I Am Beyond My Diagnosis
Before my accident, I was the kind of person who did all the things—and somehow made it look both meaningful and fun. I built community for a living and at home.
Professionally, I led and grew large-scale community initiatives and events—helping create spaces where thousands of people could gather, move, play, and belong (including events that grew to more than 25,000 participants). I worked across nonprofits, faith communities, and civic partnerships to bring people together, strengthen missions, and make our city more connected.
At the same time, I was a fully present mom of three. I was the caregiver, the organizer, the room mom volunteer, the “make it special” person—the one who cooked, showed up, remembered the details, and made the ordinary feel celebratory.
That core part of me is still here. But after a traumatic brain injury, the everyday cognitive load that used to feel manageable now costs far more than it should—and that is why support matters.
What I Struggle With Because of My Brain Injury
Living with a traumatic brain injury means that ordinary, everyday tasks now require extraordinary effort.
I experience:
* Severe cognitive fatigue, especially with decision‑making and task‑switching
* Sensory overload from noise, clutter, and constant stimulation
* Difficulty sustaining focus when my brain is overwhelmed by household demands
* Physical symptoms such as head pressure, dizziness, and emotional dysregulation when I push beyond capacity
My cognitive therapist has been very clear: the primary barrier to my next phase of healing is not motivation or effort—it is the constant drain of daily household decisions and responsibilities. Until this cognitive load is reduced, my brain cannot fully engage in the work of healing and adaptation.
This is not about convenience. It is about medical necessity.
What I Am Fundraising For
I am fundraising to cover the real, ongoing costs of living with a traumatic brain injury—costs directly related to my accident and largely paid out of pocket.
Typical Monthly Accident‑Related Costs:
Therapeutic & Medical Care
Physical & Occupational Therapy (2x/week): *$640/month**
Emotional Therapy (1x/week): *$320/month**
Psychiatry (monthly): *$280/month**
Injury‑related prescriptions: *~$60/month**
Daily‑Life Supports Required for Recovery
Childcare (25 hours/week): *$2,300/month**
Household help (cleaning and organization): *$360/month**
Laundry assistance: *$200/month**
Transportation to medical appointments: *~$75/month**
Extra food costs due to inability to cook independently: *$500–$600/month**
Altogether, the direct cost of living with my brain injury is approximately $4,700–$4,900 every month.
This does not include the loss of income our family has experienced. Because of my injury, we have lost approximately half of our household income, while our mortgage, utilities, insurance, and basic living expenses have remained unchanged.
Medically Recommended Care Currently Out of Reach
There are additional treatments recommended by my care team that could significantly improve daily functioning but are not covered by insurance:
Vision Therapy (100% out of network): *$600/month**
Functional medicine neurological treatment plan (one‑time): *$9,000**
Though often labeled “non‑medical,” these supports are considered essential for neurological healing by my providers.
How This Support Will Change My Life
Reducing the daily cognitive and physical burden on my brain will allow me to do what I am capable of doing next: reshape how I live, parent, and serve in this new season.
With this support, I will be able to:
* Stabilize my health and reduce the frequency and severity of cognitive crashes
* Be more present and regulated with my children
* Continue therapy without constant financial fear
* Re‑engage meaningful work and service in ways that are sustainable
* Discern what vocational calling looks like now, rather than trying to return to what was
This support does not simply help me survive. It creates the breathing room required for healing and hope.
How You Can Help
Please consider donating to support my recovery and sharing this campaign with others who may want to help.
If you are interested in organizing a fundraiser or offering practical support, I would be deeply grateful.
Every contribution creates breathing room—and breathing room is where healing begins.
Thank you for seeing me not only as someone who was injured, but as someone still becoming.
