Broken Back but No Broken Spirit

This is my friend Jackie Colby. Jackie is 28 years young. Vivacious, smart, compassionate, fun, goofy, athletic...she's that sweet girl next door. I know Jackie from growing up in our hometown, Newburyport, MA. Jackie has played sports her whole life, in high school she was on Varsity Basketball, Softball and Field Hockey. She was always kicking butt and taking names and never without a smile on her face.

I started this GoFundMe campaign for Jackie because recently Jackie fell off a roof and broke her back. She's had 20 staples put into her back (she recently got them out and now has a large scar down her back) and is now relearning how to do just about everything all of us take for granted every day, like writing, brushing her teeth, and even simply sitting up at the end of her bed.

The best thing about Jackie is her positive attitude. For example, when she got stitches in her back one of the first things she notices is the fact that it stops right before her Aerosmith tattoo (her favorite band of all time). When she got the stitches out her back, instead of focusing on why something like this happened to her, she tells her friends and family that she wants to use this setback in her life as a away to help others in her situation. Most of us would be wallowing in our own self pity, but all Jackie has asked for is encouragement and prayers to help her in this terrifying, long and arduous journey.


I want to raise enough money to get Jackie a bad ass wheelchair and if we have money left over...a plane ticket to Steamboat Springs, CO where I live to show her what all the physically challenged athletes here can do and teach her how to sit-ski or sit-bike (we have a program developed here that teaches all these things for people in similar situations and it is very popular. For more info on the program go to www.steamboatstars.com).


I know everyone is pinching pennies, but a couple dollars from everyone could make this dream come true. At the moment Jackie is in the dark about this fund because I know she would try to stop me. She's strong and independent, but everyone needs a helping hand sometimes. I beg you to please find the kindness in your heart and reach out to Jackie in her time of need. "Be the change you wish to see in the world". Don't assume someone else will do it. Don't use excuses like "I don't have enough money" and then head to the bar and buy a beer. Don't shrug it off because you don't have a personal relationship with her. It's not hard to help. Just do it. Just give that $5 you were going to go to Starbucks with or buy those couple Redboxes with. Help someone who really needs it.


Right now I can't imagine anything more rewarding that watching the smile on Jackie's face when I get to give her this wheelchair and I get to show her this beautiful mountain city I am blessed to call home.


Thanks for your time and God Bless.