Leola Jones

Help Leola Leave the House and Go to Her Doctor’s Appointments

Leola is that person who lights up any space she enters. She can’t help it. Her effervescent spirit spills out and touches everyone she meets. In January 2025, Leola had an extensive and risky surgery to her thoracic and lumbar spine that was necessary to address serious medical concerns. There were complications and she required additional surgeries to stabilize her condition. Once medically stable, she transferred to Spain Rehabilitation Center where she participated in 3+ hours of OT and PT 6 days a week to try and regain functional skills, such as transferring out of bed, standing, toileting, and dressing. Did she work hard? You better believe it! She didn’t miss a session, even on bad days. She was motivated to get back to her busy life and family at home. She loves to cook, especially for her church. She can talk for hours about her pots and pans, recipes, and favorite dishes to prepare and share with others. She made friends with everyone–the doctors, nurses, therapists, case managers, you name it. In fact, she developed a special connection with one of the resident physicians and clinical case managers who made special visits to spend extra time with her. Leola’s mobility was limited despite her hard work, so the therapists trained her on how to use a power wheelchair. She was a natural and zipped all over the place. When she returned home, she did not have the money to purchase a wheelchair van and it was very difficult for her to get and out of a car, so she was homebound. Leola is fundraising to obtain a wheelchair-accessible van so she can go to her many doctor’s appointments, as well as leave the house. She lives in a rural community in Alabama, and her doctors are located at the University of Alabama-Birmingham (UAB) Hospital, approximately 2 hours away. A used wheelchair van typically costs approximately $35,000. Please donate to Help Hope Live today to support Leola’s recovery journey. She is disabled and lives on a fixed income. She’s a vibrant person whose life would drastically change for the better with a wheelchair van she could use to access the world outside her home. She didn’t know where to turn until she discovered Help Hope Live. Thank you for your kindness and generosity. Bless you