Paralyzed by the Covid-19 shot, help Kayla live.

As many of you know my best friend became quadriplegic after her Covid-19 booster shot. Kayla has been diagnosed as incomplete quadriplegic due to transverse myelitis as a rare reaction to the Covid-19 booster shot.

Kayla is a mother to son Mason Merritt who attends Robert Munch Public School where Kayla has also worked in Kindergarten for the past 5 years. For most of her life she spent it working with exotic animals and training service dogs.

Kayla has had a rough go after moving from the hospital to Lyndhurst Rehabilitation Centre in Toronto.

Although rehab taught her many skills she is still unable to use two fingers on each hand, her arms are very weak and her legs are still paralyzed. She is also paralyzed internally in some of her organs and now has reduced lung volume (common in spinal cord injuries).

We are asking for community support as most of the grants or resources available are for people who own homes (she rents) or have waiting lists of several years. In the meantime the local LHIN has very limited resources due to staffing issues. That means it is up to family and friends or hired help to assist Kayla in her daily activities. Kayla has limited family support and I am a friend and only able to be at her home at night time as I work long hours. This means her only options were coming home with very limited help or making the choice to go to long term care (there are also wait lists and the homes can be hours away from family and supports). She has decided to come home and do as much as possible to regain control of her life with hopeful support from family, friends, neighbours and others around her.

Kayla has had to spend thousands of dollars out of pocket in order to purchase things such as a hospital bed (WAS NOT COVERED in YORK REGION) a commode (she had a $2000 difference to make up), her wheelchair (her copayment after ADP was $590), her Hoyer Lift ($1000 difference) and other medications not covered. She is also type 1 diabetic which adds extra weight to the situation. A previous go fund me was set up and raised $4700 but was later taken down due to the amount goal being far too low. That was all given to Walk it off Spinal Care where she attends rehab so her body doesn't fully waste away.

Kayla’s main concern is being a positive influence on her son and teaching him that a positive attitude, faith, and community can get you through anything in life. Her desire to stay close to her son means she is even coming home to an inaccessible home in hopes of one day having the money to purchase a home that she can live in near Mason.

Kayla wants to one day give back by speaking up in support of health care funding, supporting others with spinal cord injuries and being a role model to others with disabilities and her son. In the meantime Kayla needs help and support.

Kayla also had a service dog. The cost associated with keeping him (food, pet insurance, dog walking and medical) forced her to think she could not keep her best friend. I know the power of healing animals can have and do not want to see that happen. If you can help Kayla in any way please reach out.

she lost her dog, her home, her father in long term care, her community, her job and time with her son and the government has left her with no options except offering her Medical Assistance In Dying 3 times. She isn't giving up yet and her prayers are hopefully being seen by the right person at the right time now.

she needs: wheelchair Chevy BraunAbility Traverse. Or sienna Braun ability all wheel drive van.

a service dog that can walk with her wheelchair and can detect low blood sugars.

people on her side, don't judge. Most Canadians took the shot it could have happened to anyone.

Thank you and God Bless.