Ava's Resilient Recovery
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On February 2, 2021 - Ava broke her neck in a snow accident leaving her paralyzed from the neck down, just weeks after her 16th birthday. She was immediately rushed to the hospital for emergency surgery. The initial imaging revealed a significant split in her C6 vertebra with a piece pushing back on the spinal cord. After 5 hours of an extensive surgery, Ava now has a new piece of hardware - a permanent titanium cage in her neck. She will also be in an external collar to aid in the repair of multiple fractures on the backside of her spine that are not able to be surgically fixed.
Through occupational and respiratory breathing therapy at Connecticut Children’s Medical Center in Hartford, Ava slowly began to show a gradual feeling and a nerve response in her shoulders, elbows and wrists (a small percentage to her pre-surgery range of motion) - yet, the response still isn’t present in her fingers, torso, nor any part of her legs; meaning paralyzed from the waist down. Thus, Ava will need many months of tremendous help for the recovery of her entire body - especially the hands + waist down. After 11 days in the ICU, she must be medically transferred to Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital in Boston to continue acute spinal rehab treatments.
As her journey continues from weeks to months to years, the medical expenses her family will endure is unfathomable and beyond insurance coverage. The initial 10 days of treatment is already over $25,000 of out-of-pocket expenses and this is just the beginning. While Spaulding will be the best place for her recovery, it will also be a huge financial burden on her parents. Her family, including her 15 yr old brother Jacob, will also need to temporarily relocate for alternating parental visits at the facility in Boston.
Ava knows this is going to be a long journey. Her family, friends and loved ones are sending positive energy and strong prayers that one day, Ava will be able to return to a normal life of a sixteen year old girl - return to the classroom with her friends, resume her passions as a competitive swimmer, a volunteer explorer on her town fire department and trade in her learners permit for a license. Her father would like you to know “she’s a hard working kid, she’s going to push herself. She’s a fighter, the strongest I know” and Ava will do just that on her resilient recovery.
Note: Andrew Bloom, Ava's father, is set up as the beneficiary for this fundraiser. All of the funds received will go directly to his account to help pay for Ava's medical expenses.
Thank you SO much in advance for your thoughts, prayers and contributions xo
Through occupational and respiratory breathing therapy at Connecticut Children’s Medical Center in Hartford, Ava slowly began to show a gradual feeling and a nerve response in her shoulders, elbows and wrists (a small percentage to her pre-surgery range of motion) - yet, the response still isn’t present in her fingers, torso, nor any part of her legs; meaning paralyzed from the waist down. Thus, Ava will need many months of tremendous help for the recovery of her entire body - especially the hands + waist down. After 11 days in the ICU, she must be medically transferred to Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital in Boston to continue acute spinal rehab treatments.
As her journey continues from weeks to months to years, the medical expenses her family will endure is unfathomable and beyond insurance coverage. The initial 10 days of treatment is already over $25,000 of out-of-pocket expenses and this is just the beginning. While Spaulding will be the best place for her recovery, it will also be a huge financial burden on her parents. Her family, including her 15 yr old brother Jacob, will also need to temporarily relocate for alternating parental visits at the facility in Boston.
Ava knows this is going to be a long journey. Her family, friends and loved ones are sending positive energy and strong prayers that one day, Ava will be able to return to a normal life of a sixteen year old girl - return to the classroom with her friends, resume her passions as a competitive swimmer, a volunteer explorer on her town fire department and trade in her learners permit for a license. Her father would like you to know “she’s a hard working kid, she’s going to push herself. She’s a fighter, the strongest I know” and Ava will do just that on her resilient recovery.
Note: Andrew Bloom, Ava's father, is set up as the beneficiary for this fundraiser. All of the funds received will go directly to his account to help pay for Ava's medical expenses.
Thank you SO much in advance for your thoughts, prayers and contributions xo
Organizer and beneficiary
Jillian O'Neil
Organizer
New York, NY
Andrew Bloom
Beneficiary