Christopher R Davis

Chris Davis was coaching his son’s mountain biking team on May 31st when he fell and fractured his neck (C3/C4). The original prognosis was that he would be completely quadriplegic with no movement and ventilator dependent. Since then, Chris has made remarkable progress so that he is now breathing on his own and also regaining significant movement in his arms and legs. This progress is absolutely incredible, but it has been made possible because of Chris and his family’s incredibly hard work, but also because of the critical support of a team of trained professionals who know how to maximize and push every little bit of function.

There are three important things to know about life after a catastrophic injury:
• The first two years are critical: It is possible for the body to recover function after a catastrophic spinal cord injury, but the first year (and then to a lesser extent, the second year), is when the most gains will happen.

• This is a “Move It or Lose It” situation: The only way for Chris to regain and then maintain function is for him to move as much as possible. Right now, he can stand and take steps with supported assistance (which is amazing). New research shows taking even 20 steps a day will make a huge difference to future potential to walk. Chris can’t do this stuff alone, though. He needs the support of a team of people who know how to help him safely and effectively and he needs the equipment to do it on/with.

• Any little gain in movement is a gain in independence: Every little gain that Chris can make, especially with his arms, is critical to his future independence. Independence is valuable by itself, but it also has long term financial implications. The more that Chris can do for himself, the less caregiving support he will need for the rest of his life.

With these three things in mind, the Davis family is committing itself to intensely focusing on maximizing Chris’s recovery over the next 12-18 months. To make this possible, they need your help. To maximize his recovery in this critical year, Chris needs:
• As much time in physical therapy and occupational therapy as possible (hopefully no less than 2-4 hours a day)
• The support of a caregiver who can not only help him with the small tasks of daily life, but also help him stretch his muscles and keep range of motion so that they can move (lack of movement will “freeze-up” inhibiting future motion)
• Special exercise equipment that will allow him to spend as much time as possible moving (this includes a specialized Functional Electrical Stimulation bicycle and a standing frame)

In addition to this, the family needs to make some essential home accessibility modifications
And specialized medical and adaptive equipment
(including adding automatic door openers, shower chairs, a specialized bed, etc.) and needs to purchase a special van to make it so that Chris can live comfortably in his home and get around comfortably with his family.

Insurance only covers some of this. Right now, their insurance covers 30 PT/OT visits per year (less than once a week for one hour… obviously not enough to maximize gains). It covers some caregiving support, but not enough to make sure that Chris gets that stretching he needs. Our estimates is that it will take about $200,000 to support Chris’s recovery over the next 12-18 months. A gift of $150 can help Chris get a session with a physical therapist who can help him work on feeding himself (or hoisting a beer). A gift of $500 can get him most of a week of therapy. A gift of $1000 or more could help him purchase new voice activated smart home equipment so that he has as much independence at home as possible.

We are asking for your support to help cover the costs of the expenses that aren’t covered by insurance so that Chris can take advantage of this critical year and make all the gains he possibly can.

Some families in this situation sell their homes, pull their children out of school, and make other major life changes to make this type of care possible. In addition to help Chris maximize his gains, our goal is to help the Davis family avoid these major changes, and help them keep as much continuity as possible (especially for their son).

Your gift through Help Hope Live is 100% tax deductible (unlike Go Fund Me). It is also fully eligible for any matching gift programs that your employer might have. You should also know that Help Hope Live can accept gifts of appreciated stock or IRA rollover gifts, both which can have serious tax advantages for you. If you have any questions (including questions about employer matching gifts and gifts of stock/ IRA rollovers), Help Hope Live has a great FAQ page here.

Thank you for help us help the Davis family.