November 29, 2015
Thank you to everyone for their generous donations.
I am on my way to reaching my goal.
August 27, 2015
So many wonderful, compassionate people willing to help me! Thank you, Thank you, Thank you.
August 18, 2015
Great big Thank you to everyone of my supporters! I am lucky to have everyone in my corner.
Thanks again,
Ryan
August 9, 2015
Wow, So much appreciation to everyone who has contributed. I see my goal getting closer!!! So exciting.
Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
August 4, 2015
In July, I was lucky enough to go to Florida and attend Project Walk Orlando for a week. This is a Spinal Cord Recovery Facility. It was a lot of work but it was great! Thank you to everyone who has contributed to help me reach my goal.
June 15, 2015
Thank you to everyone who has supported me and donated to my cause. I greatly appreciate all of your support!
April 3, 2015
It was brought to my attention that Ryan's parent's names were not listed in the letter below. Ryan's dad is Eric Burbank. He attended Dickenson High School in Jersey City and graduated in 1986. Ryan's mom is Carolyn O'Hara Burbank. She attended Belleville High School and graduated in 1987.
March 20, 2015
Please help me walk again!
When I was 18, I was injured in a freak accident when I fell into a pool and broke my neck. My diagnosis is C6 ASI C spinal cord injury with Tetraplegia and Neurogenic bowel and bladder and spasticity issues. It’s been almost three years and I am coming up on my 21st birthday. I have eagerly attended all the physical therapy sessions the doctors prescribed and impressed the therapists at how hard I pushed myself every day. But unfortunately the insurance companies will not pay for anymore therapy and I haven’t yet gained the mobility we had hoped for.
I know I still have a long road to recovery but I am willing to work as much as I possibly can, regardless of the pain it causes. I can deal with the pain...it is the sitting around not being able to work towards recovery and the hopes of walking again that I have a hard time dealing with.
While in high school, I was a star Lacrosse player with dreams of playing in college one day. In the summer, I worked picking up recycling, breaking concrete, and digging trenches. The more physical the work the more I liked it! The other guys and bosses used to call me “the bull” because there was no quit in me. I might not play Lacrosse again, or do physical work either, but that will not stop me from trying.
My family has been so dedicated to my recovery. My father left his career he loved to take a job that was more flexible so he could help with my rehabilitation. My parents took me to a facility where I could use their equipment but it was taking us up to six hours for a half an hour of workout time. My insurance coverage has run out and will no longer cover these necessary therapy sessions or equipment needed to exercise.
The doctors explained that since my spinal cord was not severed, it was possible that I could walk again or get other functions back. They said the swelling can take up to 5 years to go down and allow for my mobility to return. The problem is that the insurance company won’t fund anything on a “might” diagnosis. But the doctors say that I have to keep working out so I don’t lose the muscle should I get the mobility back.
I know that if I had the equipment in my home and could exercise daily, my recovery path would be accelerated. I know I will walk again someday but we need help to purchase the equipment for our home. The cost of the necessary equipment is $30,000.
To help me meet my goal to walk again, this fundraising campaign in my honor has been established with HelpHOPELive, 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, are held by HelpHOPELive in the Southeast Spinal Cord Injury Fund and are administered by HelpHOPELive for injury-related expenses only. Please consider making a donation, no matter the amount.
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My family and I have been touched by the outpouring of support and love from our network of family, friends and the larger community. We want to thank each and every one for your prayers, generosity and support in helping me realize a happy and healthy future.
My sincerest thanks,
Ryan
(son of Eric Burbank and Carolyn O'Hara Burbank)
