Dan

Anonymous Contributor

Leo

As many of you know I was paralyzed from the shoulders down in an accident back in 1976. I was told I would never walk again and with hind sight it was foolish to believe that. Never say Never

It's been 31 years now and I've survived paralysis long enough to be able too see the beginning of the end of it. (paralysis) Things are happening so fast now I should be able to see the true end.

Seven years ago I just got around to looking at what's going on in spinal cord research and was amazed at how close we were and what a well kept secret this was.

In the past few years I have been fortunate to meet and visit with some of the top researchers in the field. During the past two years I have come to learn and understand that science is not stopping paralysis from being cured. It's money and in the big picture not even a lot is needed.

State governments are by far out spending our national government in this research.

How this can be I cannot understand and I have tried.

Can 200 to 400 thousand people with paralysis be such a minority that a cure can be with held, apparently so.

In 2008 there are 4 groups that I know of who are taking their treatments into human clinical trials. The heads of these 4 groups spend to large of a percentage of their time out begging for money when they would rather be doing their real work.

I joined 10 friends because I want a cure ASAP and by going this route we are putting the money right in the hands of the people doing the work.

No foundation, no middle people.

I have pledged to raise 1000.00 this year and along with your donation on this site I plan to hold a couple fundraising events through out the year that will be added to my total.

The money I raise will go to Dr. Stephen Davies in Colorado.

If you don't want to hassle with the paypal option please send me an email and we'll work some thing out.

Thanks, Leo

lhallan@iw.net

Majed

Jennifer

My story is well-known. Like so many others, I was told my injury was permanent. I have declared that I sit on the cusp of the spinal cord injured; either one of the last that can't be healed or one of the first that can. I have met key researchers. I have seen the results of their work first hand. Now I believe that I WILL experience functional return. Soon.

Anyone who says today that spinal cord injury cannot be healed has absolutely no clue what they are talking about. It is now a matter of money and politics that affects the timetable for cure. The science exists.

Ten Friends has decided to put money directly in the hands of the most promising researchers. Please help us.

Commitments

Thank you to each of the following people who have joined me in a commitment to each raise $1000.00 for spinal cord injury research before 11/15/08

Jennifer L
Kumar P
Leslie A
Steve R
Scott S
Anonymous Contributor
Darrel M
Majed Q
Leo H
Dan C
Susan & Dave



I can still use a few more friends. Will you join us and commit to raising one thousand dollars for SCI research?

The Challenge

Today is my anniversary. Four years ago today, my life completely changed. November 15, 2003, David and I moved in together and began our fairytale life. Oh sure, there was a handsome prince, beds of roses, moonlight dancing. There were dragons too, and evil trolls. We had financial struggles as David dealt with the fallout of an extremely acrimonious divorce. We had relationship struggles as our children dealt with the implications of our relationship. But, mostly it was good. No; great.

That magic year cumulated with a dream trip to Fiji . Away from the cacophony of the day-to-day we made commitments. First, to each other; I finally agreed to marry David. Next to our futures. We both decided to earn our doctorates; David’s in toxicology, mine in Oriental Medicine.

Three years ago today, my life completely changed yet again. November 15, 2004 started with the usual hike up Piestewa Peak to watch the sunrise. Then, our first day back to work following our Fiji trip. It was a whirlwind day of catching up and dreamy recollections of that idyll in Fiji . If coming down that mountain that morning I had known how much life would change just 12 hours later, I would have lingered.

That evening, we closed up shop and headed out for a quick dinner at our favorite little Mexican joint. We never made it home. At 9:46 PM, 5 bullets ripped through our lives and when the smoke cleared we learned those bullets had also ripped through David’s brain and my spinal cord. I guess you can also say that November 15th is our birthday since both of us “coded” that night.

The intervening three years from there to here have been insane. David has learned to function in a world of total darkness and he copes with incapacitating pain on a daily basis. My first big victory was learning to sit upright without assistance. Since then I’ve spent a lot of time learning how to cope with gravity in a new way. I struggle with life-threatening infections on a regular basis.

Since our injury, we have learned much about the character of people. There are those who cruelly took advantage of our tragedy and those who found our situation too sad or too challenging and chose to leave us behind. But mostly there have been angels who have given of themselves to comfort and support us. I am grateful to each and every one of you for all the large and small ways you have brought joy and comfort into our lives.

In the three years since our injuries, I have learned much about the science of neurological injuries. In these three years science has learned a lot about the science of neurological injuries too. What they’ve learned is that both the brain and the spinal cord are capable of regeneration under the right circumstances. This is huge, just like there was once a belief that the world was flat. Doctors now talk about when they will be able to heal our injuries instead of “if.”

The science exists. Clinical trials are beginning here in the US and throughout the world. Very soon, I will have the honor of meeting with one of the top researchers in the US to see first-hand how his work has progressed and learn more about these exciting advances. I’m eager to tell you all about after my trip.

Year-by-year, life goes on. November 15th will come again next year and the next… That magic day when scientists announce the “cure” for my spinal cord injury and David’s brain injury moves closer and closer. The biggest hurdle to this cure is money. The NIH budget has been decimated by war spending and other governmental priorities. Thus, those of us with chronic conditions from SCI to cancer to diabetes and MS find that we must fund our own cures.

So, on this November 15th, I would like to make lemonade from these lemons that have been handed to us. Once again, I need your help to do so. Will you help us fund these cures?

Will you commit to raising one thousand dollars before the next anniversary of my injury? It’s less than $20 a week. Your thousand, along with mine and that person’s and all the others will give the researchers the boost they need.

I am asking you to have a car wash, a bake sale, a whatever-a-thon. Pass the hat at your Super Bowl party. Put a donation jar at your favorite hangout. Be creative and have fun with it.

Please.

The funds you collect will be donated electronically and will go directly to the researchers. No handling fees or administration costs.

I am also asking for your public commitment to raising these funds. Please respond here and let me know that you are willing to help. I know there are a ton a questions you’ll want answered. In the coming weeks, I will supply a link for your donations and some information about the research.

Thank you for your love and support.

Jen