Rebecca Aleck Koltun

My name is Rebecca Koltun and on March 13th 2021 I was in a skiing accident that left me paralyzed from the next down and unable to breathe on my own. I suffered a C1-C2 incomplete spinal cord injury, and spent nine months in three different hospitals, focusing on my rehabilitation and learning how to navigate a life that would be very different from the one I’d imagined for myself.

Eventually, my house was adapted and I was able to transition home. Since then, I’ve been figuring out how to live a full life despite my disability, and taking advantage of as many opportunities as possible while also facing the challenges that come with having quadriplegia.

Today, I paint with my mouth and sell my artwork on Etsy. I share my life and experiences on social media, where I’ve built a community of more than 500,000 followers across multiple platforms. I speak to medical students and other groups about life with quadriplegia and I teach other people with disabilities how to use their adaptive technology.  For fun, I love to go to the beach, read, adaptive hike, and spend time with friends and family.

It’s not always visible from the outside, but doing all these amazing things takes an enormous amount of care, assistance, planning, and financial support. I would not be able to do any of them without the support of my community and the money we have raised with Help Hope Live. 

The medical costs associated with a spinal cord injury are overwhelming and ongoing. These expenses include around-the-clock nursing care, adaptive medical equipment, wheelchair maintenance and repairs, an accessible van and its upkeep, art therapy, and transportation for activities and medical appointments. These may not be the most visible parts of my life, but they’re the things that make the visible parts possible.

Unfortunately, insurance does not cover most of these expenses.

When my accident happened, my community rallied around me and my family when we had no idea what the future would hold. I will never be able to fully express what that support has meant to us. Today, that support is just as critical. My needs haven’t disappeared; they have changed. This is lifelong care, and the expenses associated with quadriplegia are lifelong too.

Fundraising with Help Hope Live helps to offset these costs and allow me to live life to the fullest. I’m so grateful to everyone who has supported me, shared my story, or donated. Even the smallest contributions allow me to continue wheeling forward and making my impact on the world.

Thank you for your continuing support.