My name is Tara Celentano. I am a 50-year-old who loved my profession as a horse trainer. On December 27, 2006, that came to an immediate halt when I suffered a catastrophic injury. While leading a young horse in from the paddock, the horse jumped on me and broke my neck causing spinal cord damage and leaving me a quadriplegic. This means I have no control or use of my bladder, bowel, legs or trunk. I have minimal control and feeling from my chest and arms, and no use of my fingers. I now require 24-hour-care.
Horses were not only my occupation – but also my passion. I had been riding and competing in the horse industry successfully since I was 8 years old. I was fortunate to have ridden with some of the top dressage trainers over the years. My dreams and goals were to be a competitive international rider, trainer.
I have had caregivers since I left rehab in April of 2007. My caregiver does the following: bathing, including self-care, dressing, preparing meals, assisting with eating, transferring in and out of bed, giving medications, bladder and bowel regimen, laundry, cleaning, grocery shopping, errands, taking me to doctor appointments, stretching, and anything else I may need.
I have been taken off a program that I have been on for over 15 years, which pays for my caregiver in the afternoon into the evening. I can’t stay home by myself due to being dependent for everything. My only option is to raise funds or go into a nursing home. I have no desire to be in a nursing home away from my dogs and friends. They are the only thing that keeps my morale up. I already struggle with depression, and this would be devastating.
My insurance does not provide me with evening hours. To help keep me out of a nursing home, I have chosen to fundraise with Help Hope Live, a trusted nonprofit organization that has been providing community-based fundraising guidance to patients and their families for more than 30 years. All donations are tax-deductible to the full extent allowed by law, are held by Help Hope Live in the Mid-Atlantic Spinal Cord Injury Fund, and are administered by Help Hope Live for injury-related expenses only. Help Hope Live retains 5% of donations raised (7.65% credit card) to cover the expense of managing my campaign.
For credit card contributions, please click the yellow Donate Now button.
Thank you for taking the time to read this letter and for considering a contribution. If you have any questions, please contact me. I greatly appreciate your generosity and support.
Sincerely, Tara Celentano (646) 761-6541
