Steven Anderson is raising money to pay for uninsured and future medical expenses (especially attendant care) associated with a spinal cord injury to Steve’s neck that left him without the use of his hands or legs.

Steve grew up in Titusville, PA and now lives in Washington, DC. He graduated summa cum laude from Princeton University, where he studied environmental policy (with a particular interest in climate change) at the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs. Steve graduated from law school at Georgetown University in Washington, DC in the spring of 2010 and has launched a career in public-interest environmental law.

Steve’s Injury

On September 9, 2005, while leading a freshman orientation hiking and camping trip for Princeton University, Steve sustained a life-altering spinal cord injury after wading into thigh-deep water and performing a shallow dive, striking an underwater obstacle. The sudden impact left him with no use of his legs or hands and only limited use of his arms. His fourth cervical vertebra was badly broken, while his fifth cervical vertebra was totally shattered. Instantly paralyzed, Steve was floating facedown in the water. Thankfully, he had been placed with reliable and well-trained classmates, and Steve remained calm enough to help guide them as they stabilized his neck, lifted him onto dry land, and passed him off to medical authorities.

After aspirating in the hospital, doctors were forced to perform a tracheotomy in order to restore Steve’s ability to breathe. An anterior and posterior spinal stabilization were performed at Thomas Jefferson Hospital in Philadelphia to protect the spinal cord from further damage. After nearly a month of surgeries, weaning off of a ventilator, stabilizing vital signs, and recovering his ability to talk and swallow foods, he was transferred to and began inpatient rehabilitation at Kessler Institute in West Orange, NJ in early October.

Through intensive physical and occupational therapy, Steve recovered much of his strength and, thanks to this, he regained the stamina to talk for more than a few minutes at a time, he learned to control his own power chair, and he also began learning new ways to use a computer again. On January 28, 2006, Steve was discharged home with his parents to Titusville for outpatient rehabilitation at HealthSouth in Erie, PA.

Current Situation

Despite all of this progress, Steve remains critically dependent upon medical care and supplies. Simple tasks like opening doors or feeding himself remain difficult, and others like writing, dressing, or getting in and out of bed remain impossible without a personal care attendant. While specialized equipment like a powerchair and voice recognition software help him accomplish some daily tasks on his own, Steve still requires the assistance of a personal care attendant for much of the day.

HelpHOPELive Fundraising Campaign

Steve has chosen to fundraise with HelpHOPELive in part because it provides both tax-deductibility and fiscal accountability to his contributors. Contributors can be sure that funds contributed will be used only to pay or reimburse medically-related expenses. Steve is also searching for corporate sponsors who would contribute by matching donations.

If you’re interested in contributing by check,

Make checks payable to:
HelpHOPELive

Note in memo section:
In Honor of Steven Anderson

Please mail to:
HelpHOPELive
Two Radnor Corporate Center
100 Matsonford Road, Suite 100
Radnor, PA 19087

To make a contribution to Steve’s HelpHOPELive fundraising campaign, click the “Donate Now” button.

For more information, please contact HelpHOPELive at 800-642-8399. Thanks for your support!