Chris Pickard

At 10:20 p.m. on May 13th, 2011, we received one of the most frightening phone calls a parent could ever receive. Our 18 year old son was a passenger in a car that had crashed into a brick sign. Christopher had sustained a spinal cord injury and needed emergency surgery to relieve pressure on his spinal cord and replace his C6 vertebrae. We are so thankful Christopher is alive today. God protected him and we know He has special plans for his life.

After one week in ICU, Christopher was transferred to the Shepherd Spinal Center in Atlanta. It was a shock to hear he was a quadriplegic. He has use of his wrists, arms and shoulders, but does not have use of his hands, trunk or legs at this time. His spinal cord injury is considered incomplete, as he does have some feeling in the areas where there is no movement. This gives us hope that Chris can and will recover.

Before the accident our son was working 20 hours a week for Forsyth County Parks and Recreation, was nearing graduation from Lambert High School. He was planning to attend The University of West Georgia in the fall. Just two weeks after the accident, with the assistance of his therapist and the incredible support of his classmates, Chris received his diploma in person.

It is crucial to get him into an intense, exercise-based therapy program as soon as possible. We have found that there are cutting-edge rehab institutes that provide real hope for someone like Chris, whose injury is “incomplete.” Chris is planning to start a Project Walk in Carlsbad California on 8/22. Project Walk is a highly regarded rehab center where they have seen great results with people who have spinal cord injuries.

Programs like Project Walk are expensive and not covered by insurance. Besides the cost of the therapy, we will be facing travel and relocation costs for Chris and Jeannie who will go along as his caregiver. To help with these expenses, we have set up a fundraising campaign with HelpHOPELive, a non-profit organization that has been working with transplant and spinal cord injury patients for nearly 30 years. All donations will be used for Chris’ injury-related expenses and are tax deductible. If the Lord does lay it on your heart to help be a part of Chris’ recovery, than please donate today.

Please make checks payable to:
HelpHOPELive

Write on check’s memo line:
In Honor of Chris Pickard

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

If you wish to use a credit card, please call 800-642-8399 or select the DONATE NOW button.

PLEASE HELP CHRIS AND FORWARD THIS ON TO YOUR ENTIRE ADDRESS BOOK AND SHARE IT ON FACEBOOK.

We are so very proud of our son’s attitude. It has been very humbling to watch him go from looking forward to spending the summer working and hanging out with his friends to now learning new methods of personal care – many basic activities we take for granted. Never once has he complained or asked “Why did this happen to me?”, but always said simply “I have to get better. We love our son and believe with him that he will one day walk again. With our Lord’s guidance, your help, and Chris’ incredible determination, we can move mountains. Thank You for your Prayers.

Sincerely,

Paul and Jeannie Pickard (678-200-4239 / 770-722-4239)
2525 Stonevalley Lane
Cumming, GA 30041 [email protected], [email protected]