Help Sophie Heal: A Father's Plea for Support

Hello friends, family, and kind-hearted souls,

My name is Jeff, and I’m writing on behalf of my incredible daughter, Sophie. The past few months have been some of the hardest we’ve ever faced, and I want to share Sophie’s journey with you in the hopes that you can offer support as she navigates this unexpected chapter in her life.

In May of 2024, Sophie, who had been struggling with severe back pain since September 2023, was suddenly faced with the terrifying reality of losing control over her body. Her journey began with a herniated disc that led to a medical emergency—Cauda Equina Syndrome. This is a rare condition where nerves at the base of the spine are compressed, leading to loss of bladder and bowel function, and if not treated within 24 hours, can result in permanent nerve damage.

After months of pain management through physiotherapy, chiropractic care, and countless medical appointments, Sophie was finally diagnosed. But by then, it was too late to prevent nerve damage. She was airlifted to Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto for emergency spinal surgery, and though the surgeons did everything they could, they weren’t optimistic about her recovery. They told Sophie she would likely never regain control of her bladder, bowels, or other basic functions.

Sophie, ever the fighter, endured the surgery and went through five weeks of intensive rehab at Lyndhurst Spinal Rehabilitation Centre. With determination and the grace of God, she even managed to walk across the stage at her graduation from teachers college—something that many thought wouldn’t be possible.

Since returning home, Sophie’s life has been a mix of small victories and overwhelming challenges. She works tirelessly with her medical team, and though she is able to walk, her bladder and bowel control haven’t returned. She now uses catheters to eliminate her bladder and has to manually manage her bowels. These supplies are expensive, and many of her treatments and therapies are not covered by insurance.

We would appreciate any and all help in covering these costs for Sophie. She came out of university with loans and she is concerned about this. She was set on getting right to work and paying them off ASAP. But her plans have changed. She is not able to work full time yet. She has been advised by her doctors to take more time to focus on healing, gaining confidence with her new bladder and bowel management, and improving her gait mechanics and physical strength and endurance before returning to teaching. Sophie has no income right now, as she was denied EI and is not working.

Every contribution will go toward helping Sophie regain her independence and cover the significant costs of her medical care and recovery.

From Sophie:

I’ve avoided writing this for so long because, in many ways, I feel so fortunate. I can walk, drive, cook, and do so many things that others in my situation can’t. But my life has changed forever. On the outside, I may look great, which I am in many ways, praise god for that! but inside, I’m grieving the loss of what my body used to be able to do.

This is awkward for me because I don’t pity myself, and I don’t want others to pity me. But the reality is, my life is harder now. Sometimes I wonder if I am even allowed to say that this is hard because I don’t want to seem ungrateful. I know that people have it much worse than me, but my doctors say that I am allowed to let the sadness in without seeming ungrateful.

I feel bad asking for help, but the truth is, I need it.

I’ve found myself in two stories of the Bible a lot recently: Mephibosheth's story in 2 Samuel 9 and a crippled man’s story in Acts 3.

Both men were broken for a reason that had nothing to do with something they did. They just got dealt the hand of a broken body, because of their lack of physical independence, they were forced to beg.

I feel a kinship to these men, though they lived thousands of years ago.

I feel like a broken beggar too.

My days are now filled with appointments, exercises, and managing my physical needs. I am grateful for all the progress I’ve made, but the financial burden is real. My insurance has run out, my student loans hang over me, and I’m facing expenses I never anticipated.

I’m not giving up. I believe that healing is in God’s hands, but I also know that I can’t do this alone. Any help you can offer—whether through a donation or by sharing my story—would mean the world to me.

Thank you for taking the time to read this, and for any support you can offer as I continue on this journey of healing.

With love and gratitude,

Jeff & Sophie

How Your Donation Will Help:

Medical Supplies - Catheters / Antiseptic wipes / things not paid for by insurance etc.

12 month supply.

$400 per month

$4800.00

Help to Carry Student Loan Payments for a year. (Sophie not able to work).

$250 per month

$3000.00

According to Sophie's doctors most healing (nerve regeneration) happens within the first year, decreases dramatically the second and falls off from then on. We want to do everything we can to support the restoration of nerves for pelvic sensation and bladder and bowel control to return. Feet and calf strength to return and nerve pain to leave. We also want to maintain Sophie's current mental and emotional strength. To that end...

Physio Therapy 12 visits at $100 per

$1200

Pelvic Floor Therapy 24 visits at $90 per 1/2 hour

$2160.00

Massage Therapy 12 1 hour visits at $110

$1320.00

Counseling 1 hour visits 12 at $100

$1200.00

We appreciate every bit of support—thank you for helping us lighten the load and giving Sophie the chance to focus on her recovery.