Smart drive for wheelchair
Donation protected
Sunday july 20th from 3-9pm, there will be an event "PGA PRO'S FOR MELISSA" event. Many local PGA Golf Professionals will be conducting individual lessons, clinics and fun competitions on this day. All of the proceeds will go to help Melissa Smith with her health issues and specifically to upgrade her wheelchair. Please save the date and come to the event to show support.
July 20 ( Sunday) 3 pm to 9 pm
Severna Park Golf Center
1257 Ritchie Highway
Arnold, Md 21012
410-647-8618
FROM MELISSA,
In 2006, I was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma, I was 22 years old. I had intense chemotherapy and was able to make a full recovery. In 2010, I was hit for a second time and this was much harder to get through, I had lots of chemo, a bone marrow transplant and 28 days straight of radiation. This was a very hard and long road and it has left me with several issues I will deal with for the rest of my life, one in particular has to do with a lung disease that I will always suffer from. My lungs are weak and only function at 60% now. I get fatigued quickly and have had my lungs collapse and have had countless pneumonias.
After I was finally in remission and starting to get my life back, I was struck with a very rare neurological disease called Transverse Myelitis. This was just 2 months after my remission. It started with tingling and numbness in my toes, feet, and it moved up quickly. Before I knew it, I was paralyzed from the chest down and have been since June of 2012. This changed my life for the worse. I got kicked out of nursing school because I couldn't walk anymore. I lived on a third story apartment and couldn't get in or out for months until I found a new place. I have had endless medical bills and even with health insurance, the bills are out of control. In hopes of slowing down the paralysis, I was treated with the highest doses of steroids out there, several times and while it didn't change the outcome for me, it has worked for others and its the only hope when it comes to TM, as there is no cure for this disease and its not well researched because there just aren't funds for a disease that isn't "popular" enough.
All of that being said, the steroids have had many severe side effects on my body, short term and long term. I will spare you some of the other details because if I shared everything, you would be reading for the next hour. One big problem steroids cause is necrosis of bones, particularly joints, such as elbows knees and shoulders. Well, since I have no use whatsoever in my legs, I desperately need my arms and unfortunately, the necrosis has taken over my left elbow and has now started in my right elbow and it is one of the most painful things I have ever felt, on top of the pain, the necrosis means that my bone is actually dying off.
My physical therapist recently told me about a device called the Smart Drive. It's basically a 10 pound device that slips right on the back of my wheelchair.I could give it a little push and it will go 5x further than I could push and it will take SO much pressure off of my elbows and shoulders which have not been affected and fingers crossed, they won't, but my elbows are in bad shape. Just like any other important piece of equipment needed to keep my body in good shape, it cannot be approved by insurance because they don't consider it a necessity because in their minds, I'm in a wheelchair and my life is over and they don't want to spend any more money on someone like me. But I believe I still have a lot of life to live and I still want to!
I am asking for your help to raise the money for my smart drive. It costs a little bit over $5,000. It would be a tremendous help for me and give my bones the break and the help they need. I want a job, a family and my list goes on. This wheelchair, cancer, transverse myelitis, the necrosis and my lung disease does not have to be a death sentence for me, I still have so much to live for but I've needed a lot of help a long the way and thanks to people like you, who listen, hear me, and care, I am able to do the things I want and need and I think, I deserve. I Thank you so very much, with my whole heart.
Love,
Melissa
July 20 ( Sunday) 3 pm to 9 pm
Severna Park Golf Center
1257 Ritchie Highway
Arnold, Md 21012
410-647-8618
FROM MELISSA,
In 2006, I was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma, I was 22 years old. I had intense chemotherapy and was able to make a full recovery. In 2010, I was hit for a second time and this was much harder to get through, I had lots of chemo, a bone marrow transplant and 28 days straight of radiation. This was a very hard and long road and it has left me with several issues I will deal with for the rest of my life, one in particular has to do with a lung disease that I will always suffer from. My lungs are weak and only function at 60% now. I get fatigued quickly and have had my lungs collapse and have had countless pneumonias.
After I was finally in remission and starting to get my life back, I was struck with a very rare neurological disease called Transverse Myelitis. This was just 2 months after my remission. It started with tingling and numbness in my toes, feet, and it moved up quickly. Before I knew it, I was paralyzed from the chest down and have been since June of 2012. This changed my life for the worse. I got kicked out of nursing school because I couldn't walk anymore. I lived on a third story apartment and couldn't get in or out for months until I found a new place. I have had endless medical bills and even with health insurance, the bills are out of control. In hopes of slowing down the paralysis, I was treated with the highest doses of steroids out there, several times and while it didn't change the outcome for me, it has worked for others and its the only hope when it comes to TM, as there is no cure for this disease and its not well researched because there just aren't funds for a disease that isn't "popular" enough.
All of that being said, the steroids have had many severe side effects on my body, short term and long term. I will spare you some of the other details because if I shared everything, you would be reading for the next hour. One big problem steroids cause is necrosis of bones, particularly joints, such as elbows knees and shoulders. Well, since I have no use whatsoever in my legs, I desperately need my arms and unfortunately, the necrosis has taken over my left elbow and has now started in my right elbow and it is one of the most painful things I have ever felt, on top of the pain, the necrosis means that my bone is actually dying off.
My physical therapist recently told me about a device called the Smart Drive. It's basically a 10 pound device that slips right on the back of my wheelchair.I could give it a little push and it will go 5x further than I could push and it will take SO much pressure off of my elbows and shoulders which have not been affected and fingers crossed, they won't, but my elbows are in bad shape. Just like any other important piece of equipment needed to keep my body in good shape, it cannot be approved by insurance because they don't consider it a necessity because in their minds, I'm in a wheelchair and my life is over and they don't want to spend any more money on someone like me. But I believe I still have a lot of life to live and I still want to!
I am asking for your help to raise the money for my smart drive. It costs a little bit over $5,000. It would be a tremendous help for me and give my bones the break and the help they need. I want a job, a family and my list goes on. This wheelchair, cancer, transverse myelitis, the necrosis and my lung disease does not have to be a death sentence for me, I still have so much to live for but I've needed a lot of help a long the way and thanks to people like you, who listen, hear me, and care, I am able to do the things I want and need and I think, I deserve. I Thank you so very much, with my whole heart.
Love,
Melissa
Organizer
Melissa Smith
Organizer
Annapolis, MD
