Ed B’s Story

While on vacation with my family in July 2022, swimming in the surf of the Outer Banks in North Carolina, I suffered a devastating spinal injury. After undergoing surgery for a fractured vertebrae and spending significant time in intensive inpatient rehabilitation, I returned home to continue outpatient rehabilitation. My prognosis is a C5-C7 spinal cord injury, and I have partial paralysis from my upper-chest down. Since coming home, I have made considerable improvements. With the help of my friends, family, and physical and occupational therapists, I am slowly but surely regaining strength and motor skills that are critical to increasing my independence. That being the case, funding for comprehensive rehabilitation equipment and therapists is of the utmost importance on my road to recovery.


This grant would provide a sense of relief for us. As you must be familiar with, the first year or so of recovery from a spinal cord injury is the most crucial to make improvements. With the grant, we would be able to fund the weekly physical therapy that is absolutely necessary for me to continue to gain independence. Insurance only covers a minimal portion of what is going to set me up for the rest of my life. I️ have support from family and friends, but a positive attitude can only go so far with this type of physical injury– I️ need specialized therapy, and lots of it.