Kate Strickland

Dear Friends, Family and Community,

It was a year ago when our now 20 year old daughter, Kate, was a college freshman enjoying that sense of freedom many get living away from home for the first time when tragedy struck. On October 1, 2013, Kate was riding her bike in Austin, Texas training for the University of Texas cycling team when she was hit by a car and broke her neck. Kate was left quadriplegic, paralyzed from her upper chest down and is unable to use her wrists or hands. Kate has had extensive hospital stays, surgeries and spent time at the Craig Hospital in Denver as well as TIRR Memorial Hermann in Houston for rehabilitation therapy.

Now, a year later, Kate is back in college resuming her freshman year trying to achieve her academic goal of getting a degree in Plan II (a challenging interdisciplinary honors program) and business and going on to Law School. Returning to the University of Texas at Austin has been a trying experience for Kate. Navigating the campus in a power wheelchair is much harder than walking or riding a bike. Since Kate requires a full time caregiver, Jenie is living in Kate’s dorm room with her, attending classes, taking notes for her and is constantly on call to help Kate as needed. Who wants to go to college with their mom?! Those who know Kate know she is working hard and will ultimately succeed.

Even with insurance there are many expenses that are not covered and must be paid out of pocket, both now and throughout Kate’s life. Some of these expenses are additional home modifications, adaptive equipment, and continuous physical and occupational rehabilitative therapy to help increase her strength and make strides to becoming more independent. This is a financial burden Kate is facing now and for years to come. Kate could really use your help to make sure she has the resources to continue to improve and face life’s challenges.

To help with the financial burden of Kate’s uninsured expenses, a fundraising campaign in her honor has been established with HelpHOPELive, a trusted nonprofit organization that has been providing community-based fundraising guidance to patients and their families for more than 30 years. All donations are tax deductible, are held by HelpHOPELive in the South-Central Spinal Cord Injury Fund, and are administered by HelpHOPELive for injury-related expenses only. Please consider making an end of year tax-deductible contribution.

On behalf of Kate and our family, thank your for your kindness, support, and generosity.

Matt and Jenie Strickland
281-304-5119
[email protected]