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I am writing this letter to ask for your help, specifically, your financial help for my husband Joe. As you know in October of 2010 Joe fell from the top of the stair case in our home incurring a spinal cord injury that has left him paralyzed from his nipples down. We were told immediately that he suffered a devastating prognosis and that it was “unlikely that he would ever walk again”.
As you know Joe has always been an energetic and enthusiastic individual. He has spent most of his life working and helping others. He was a busy guy and more so after he retired. The beautiful thing about Joe is that he was always the first one to jump up and volunteer to help someone who needed it and rarely did he ever ask for help, even when he was in need. Joe has always loved people and they in turn have always loved him. This was Joe right up until he fell. Then his life was changed in an instant but maybe not unalterably changed.
The spinal cord injury has been the hardest thing for Joe to live with. He has had many challenges as a result of this injury. He was left blind in his left eye as a direct result of the lifesaving surgery to stabilize his spine. Due to arthritis in both of his shoulders, pushing his wheelchair causes pain and severe spasms andhe cannot sit up straight. It is extremely difficult for Joe to care for himself and I am his 24 hour caregiver. There were a lot of tears and many dark days during Joe’s rehab where he lost any hope of ever having a normal life.
Today none of these things is an issue, today Joe has hope again and a smile on his face. Joe is himself in many ways today and this has not happened by accident. Today we are in Carlsbad, CA attending a program of recovery at Project Walk. At Project Walk they believe that the spinal cord and brain can be reorganized to allow for the return of function. They use an intense program of specific exercises intended to help Joe’s body learn to walk again. We have been here for just about a month and Joe has had a big change in his posture and has been able to have some deliberate and purposeful movement in his legs. This is obviously a huge occurrence but in order for Joe to walk again he will need to repeat these exercises hundreds maybe thousands of times. Project Walk is a non-profit and is not covered by any insurance; it costs $105.00 an hour. Currently he goes for three hours three times a week. We also have to pay for a hotel room as well as food and gas. We will be able to stay through the end of September then we will be out of money.
This is where you come in dear family and friends. Joe will not be able to keep going without raising the money to pay for it. We see many people at Project Walk on their feet and walking, people who have spinal cord injuries and were told they would never walk again. Please help Joe do the same.
To help with the cost of Project Walk and other uninsured medical expenses we have partnered with HelpHOPELive (formerly NTAF), a non-profit organization that has been assisting the transplant community for nearly 30 years. In 2000, they expanded their mission to include those who have sustained a catastrophic injury. All contributions are tax deductible, are held by HelpHOPELive in the Northwest Spinal Cord Injury Fund,and are administered by HelpHOPELive for injury related expenses only. If you are able to help Joe:
Make checks payable to:
HelpHOPELive
Note in memo section:
In honor of Joseph Preti
Please mail checks to:
HelpHOPELive
Two Radnor Corporate Center100 Matsonford Road, Suite 100
Radnor, PA 19087
For credit card contributions please call, 800-642-8399 or select the DONATE NOW button.
Sincerely yours,
Pauline
Hello Team Preti,
Well it has been since forever that I have posted anything here so I thought it was high time to do so. A lot has happened in my life since the last time I posted anything. Let's see if I can bring you all up to speed.
At the end of 2014 we decided not to go back to Project Walk. There were several factors that prompted our decision with the first one being that Project Walk had changed. It was not the loving and supportive place it was when I first started attending. They had fired a lot of people and I learned that they had changed to a place that was only concerned about money. They didn't treat the trainers well at all and paid them very poorly. Secondly, it was very expensive staying there and I could no longer keep asking friends and family for money through my fundraisers. Thirdly, we missed our friends and family back home. We were living in an 800 square foot condo which was much better than a hotel room but still very small. There were a couple of other reasons too but they were insignificant. In any event we returned home and haven't looked back.
So what have we been doing since we have arrived back home? Well...living! I have started working out with a personal trainer twice a week and I have been able to maintain my strength. I also started working with Dr. Jennifer Hastings, a physical therapist, who is just amazing. I learned of her from a video of a presentation she gave at the UWMC on proper wheelchair fitting. I had never felt that I had been properly fitted so I sought her out. From there, she invited me to attend the University of Puget Sound where she was the Clinical Director of the school's Physical Therapy department. Then during summer break I worked with her one on one and learned so much.
Back at the UWMC, my spinal cord doctor, Dr Maria Reyes got me admitted to a program where I will get to use an exoskeleton. Although I don't put as much emphasis on the whole walking thing, this opportunity is pretty exciting.
Pauline is recovering from total knee replacement surgery and then had issues with her back. This was in one way a kind of blessing in disguise as I had to not rely on her nearly as much and learned to do much more for myself. She is doing much better now and we hope for her to be back to full strength soon.
It's great being back home with our children and so many friends. Their love and support is a special medicine all its own. Our daughter, Martina, got married on September 20, 2015 and both our sons are planning to get married. Joseph in October of this year and Chris in 2017. So, life marches on.
I think that is it for now. Thank you all so very much for walking this journey with me. Thank you for your financial support as well as all the prayers and love. Please know that I carry all of you in my heart and will always be grateful.
Blessings and much love,
Joe
Hello Team Preti,
It's has been a long while since I have posted here at HHL. It is an oversight on my part and I want to correct it right now. First of all, I am doing amazingly well. I continue to work out at Project Walk three times per week and keep getting stronger and have some voluntary movement in both of my feet. I also attended a program in New York at Stonybrook University called Empower SCI. It was amazing! I surfed, went kayaking, hand cycled, went swimming and rode in this amazing power chair that went up and down steps and over walls. It was so much fun. I also received PT and OT three days a week while there and met some of the most amazing people. It expanded my awareness of all the things I could do and for that I am so grateful.
I want to invite everyone, especially those of you in New York, to my annual fundraiser. It will be on October 19, from 1-5 pm at the Nyack Seaport. The Nyack Seaport is at 21 Burd Street in Nyack, NY. Tickets are $100 and include a full buffet, beer and wine and entertainment by ETA featuring Stevan Swann. There will also be a live and silent auction. Some of the items available at the auction include tickets to the Giants vs. 49'ers game at the Meadowlands, a weekend stay at Green Gables in Camden, Maine, a weekend stay at a beautiful apartment in Manhattan, NYC, many gift certificates for lunches and dinners, yoga classes, dance classes, floral arranging classes, artwork and more.
Attending Project Walk and staying in California is an expensive proposition and I need your support. Won't you come out to support my journey of walking again and also to have a great time with great people.
Much love and many blessings to you all...
Joe P
Hey everyone,
Pauline and I arrived back home in Washington on October 30th. We will be returning to Project Walk on January 2nd and my first workout will be January 6th. I would not be able to do this if it weren't for the kindness of all who have contributed to my campaign. Especially those of you who attended my fundraiser on October 20th. I will never give up and I thank all of you for your continued love and financial support.
Hey Family and friends,
I am getting really excited about the upcoming fundraiser in New York on October 20. I will be leaving for New York this coming Tuesday so I will have time to visit with friends I haven't seen in a long time. Although only 22 people have bought tickets online, so many more have committed to being their and purchasing their tickets at the door. If possible let me know if you are definitely going to be coming so we can give an accurate headcount to the Nyack Seaport. This way there will be plenty of food and drinks for everyone. Tickets are $100 and can be purchased right on this site or at the door. Thanks to everyone who has worked so hard to make this event successful. People who donated articles and services, my sister, Lisa, brothers Mark and Jon, Maralin and David and everyone else. My love and appreciation goes out to you all.
October 2, 2013 is the three year anniversary of my injury. So much has changed, to say the least. Since coming to Project Walk, I have made incredible gains. I have posted some recent videos of my workouts. My money has pretty much run out and I need more funds in order to stay at Project Walk. Please help me realize my dream of walking again.
The gains I have already made are thanks to those of you who have already contributed. For this, you have my love and gratitude.
Won't you please help me come back again next year...
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Prayers sent for a speedy recovery.
Steve Verhille
Hey Joseph and Paul,
Not able to attend but will be sending tickets to Marilyn Koho and Kathleen and Steven Mones. I love you both dearly. Please, I ask you both to forgive my inadequecies. Much love, Con
Connie Bohr / Georgia
I will make my donation the first of the month. So happy to be able to be a part (although a small part) of your recovery. THANK YOU!
Gloria Ma'ae
good energy to you good luck is for betting
my prayers are going your way
tony ziegler blauvelt ny
Joseph, Florence raves about you -- your strength, your talent, and you ability to inspire. I hope to meet you someday when you are back in Seattle. My best to you and Pauline!
Teri Floyd/Seattle
Make checks payable to:
Help Hope Live
Note in memo:
In honor of Joseph Preti
Mail to:
Help Hope Live
2 Radnor Corporate Center
Suite 100
100 Matsonford Road
Radnor, PA 19087
Donor preference is important to us. Please specify in writing if you wish for your name or donation amount to be kept private.
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