Jim R Piper

Greetings, Helphopelive began its fund drive May 29th. I am reaching out to share my sincere gratitude to all the donors who have helped me achieve some of my goals. Enough money has been raised to pay off my past medical bills and make my bathroom handicap accessible. I am currently trying to come up with enough money to buy a van, to pay current medical bills, go to doctor’s appointments and physical therapy! More updates to come!

The Nonprofit Help Hope Live donations made in my honor, are tax deductible, and there is no credit card fee.

Please read the story below for more details.

My name is James Piper, and I have a Spinal Cord Injury (CSI) – Tetra-plegic (ambulatory – grade D incomplete with preserved motor function) that I have had since 1984 (at the age of 29) which paralyzed me from the neck down. After my spinal cord injury, I was sent to Craig Hospital where I learned how to walk again using assistance (crutches, cane and other devices) since then I have been able to camp, fish, hike. It took hard work, and determination.

 After much rehab, I was successful in returning to my former occupation as a Geologic Consultant.  I then completed my Masters of Science in Geology from The Colorado School of Mines and became an Economic Geologist. I became a member of the Murray Clan where I Iearned and taught the importance of my Scottish heritage and history in respect to Geology.

My physical fitness peaked after being able to swim up to a distance of 3/4 of a mile, three times a week, and my activity included visiting mines (which required mobility, strength, and endurance), assessing resource potential, compiling databases, and editing newsletters for an exploration society. My most recent mineralogical consulting projects were microscopic “microscopic characterization determinations” of economic minerals (ore) and rocks.  My 45 years of being a consulting geologist has kept my spirits up.

In 2021 my health began to deteriorate after I suffered a blockage in my lower intestines. The blockage was surgically removed, but I lost my strength. After rehab I began to walk again and regain my strength but began to experience a series of UTI’s which had an impact on my health. After each episode I would lose and regain my strength . Last year I found myself at “deaths door,” and going into Hospice Care, but somehow, I managed to recover, slowly, while dealing with other challenging prognoses based upon my age. 

My medical bills are high because of the repeated trips to the hospital for medical emergencies such as surgery, UTI’s and a first time Covid illness with pneumonia which made it necessary to have a care giver until I fully recover.

I started outpatient rehab at Craig Hospital again, and am working with therapists to regain my strength and walk more than a few steps per day. This therapy appears to be beneficial in regenerating movement by using cutting edge technology.

Current Need: Accessible bathroom, accessibility to the garage from inside the house, emergency access to the backyard in case of a fire and an accessible van. Future needs include a ceiling lift for easier access to the bathroom and my bed.

I am asking for your contribution to help me pay off medical bills, to cover the new expenses I will incur in the next recent months, so I am able to continue to regain strength, and to share my experience with family, friends and colleagues, and enjoy the outdoors again.