Amy Labagnara

Dear Community,

On May 22, 2006, I was in a near fatal car accident. I was distracted by my cell phone which resulted in my car hitting the embankment on the opposite side of the road and rolling over multiple times. The outcome of the accident left me quadriplegic and ventilator dependent.

Since 2006, I have been in several hospitals, rehabs and sub-acute facilities. Today, though paralyzed, I am living in a private home with 24 hour nursing care, able to do many things I hadn’t previously thought possible. But what’s missing is the closeness to my family that I can’t achieve without your help.

All of my immediate family, including my precious 17-year-old daughter, live two hours away. It has been extremely hard to live so far away from them. The problem is that the area they live in, Banning has very limited transportation options for people in my situation, which is one of the reasons I live in Northridge. My goal is to raise enough money for an accessible van so that I can move to Banning to be close to those I love most and be there for my daughter as she grows into adulthood.

I have chosen to fundraise with HelpHOPELive in part because HelpHOPELive assures fiscal accountability of funds raised and tax deductibility for donors. Donors can be sure that funds donated will be used only to pay or reimburse medically-related expenses. To make a tax-deductible donation to this fundraising campaign, click on the Donate Now button.

For more information, please contact HelpHOPELive at 800.642.8399.

Not only would a vehicle be extremely helpful for my daily tasks such as shopping or going to doctor’s appointments, but it would allow me to pursue my dream of visiting high schools to share my cautionary tale about the dangers of cell phone distractions while driving.

Thank you for your support.

Sincerely,

Amy Labagnara
[email protected]