Selma Hafizbegovic

Celebrating Life, Honoring Love: Selma’s Journey to Recovery

In June of 2010, Selma Hafizbegovic was told she had suffered a “complete spinal cord injury” from the waist down after a devastating rock climbing accident in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. Her doctors at the time told her there was next to absolutely no hope of regaining sensation or movement in her lower body.

Selma, with her strong will and spirit, never accepted that prognosis. Instead, she found solace in faith, hope, and love within her and around her, and used it to fuel her desire to continue to work on her recovery, with all the tenacity, perseverance, and determination she could muster.

After a long journey through multiple states, from one hospital to another, from one rehab center to another, she found her way to treatment at the renowned Shepherd Spinal Center in Atlanta, and their Beyond Therapy® rehabilitation program. Still at Shepherd’s Beyond Therapy program, she continues to pursue a challenging program of rehabilitative exercises, along with other holistic and therapeutic programs she has found in Atlanta and enrolled herself with.

While Selma has not yet reached her goal of a complete recovery, she is a long way from a complete injury. Just take a look at her incredible progress:

Video Therapy at Chastain Horse Park – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqRQp8R6Yag&feature=youtu.be.
My big kiss at the end, is for all of you… my wonderful family… my best and dearest friends in the world… my extraordinary therapists, exercise specialists, therapeutic instructors, volunteers… my very special doctors, healers, guides… my kindest Residence Inn friends… my beautiful horse Rebel… and all kindred souls, good-hearted strangers sent my way to help me… Thank You!! And Thank You God!! — Much love.

Video Walking in braces – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1U_uaRyOk_I&feature=youtu.be
This is the video that features my very first independent steps (the braces are mechanical, 15 pounds heavy, and they support my knees and prevent them from collapsing).

Video Walking with the Therapist – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtGyAVAj0vI

Selma is not only making great progress, but she is also an inspiration to others undergoing therapy at Shepherd. In fact, her therapists say they are learning from her about the hope that patients diagnosed with a complete spinal cord injury can have. They recommend many challenging therapies for Selma—and she consistently meets the challenge. Inspired by Selma’s ability to meet their goals against the odds, her therapists are working with other patients in similar ways. It is not surprising to anyone who knows Selma that her spirit and tenacity are helping others in many ways, every day.

To help support the extensive cost of her therapy, Selma has resurrected an old hobby, jewelry making. She calls her jewelry line Stones of Hope and has been offering her beautifully crafted necklaces, bracelets, and earrings to raise funds for her continuous therapy.

Selma has chosen to fundraise with HelpHOPELive (formerly NTAF) – because HelpHOPELive provides both tax-deductibility and fiscal accountability to contributors. Whatever you can give will help – it all adds up! Contributors can be sure that funds contributed will be used only to pay or reimburse medically-related expenses.

If your company has a matching gifts program, Selma will greatly benefit from your employer’s support. Please inquire with your employer what documentation is required.

For more information, please contact HelpHOPELive at 800.642.8399.

Many thanks for your support!

Selma’s Therapy
www.beyond-therapy.org
www.chastainhorsepark.org
www.atlantaholisticmedicine…
www.medicalacupuncturenutri…
www.gedaliahhealingarts.com
http://drskillas.com