Help Kelly's Family Adjust to New Challenges

Kelly and her family: husband Javier, daughter Nalani, and son Emiliano, are in need of your help. While many of you know Kelly, her family, and the journey they have gone through so far, you may not be familiar with their current struggles. Kelly was experiencing weakness and numbness in her right leg, as well as issues with incontinence, which left her hospitalized while doctors tried to determine the cause of her systems. She walked into Stanford on June 27th hoping to find some answers and was admitted for care, though things quickly changed.

On June 29th after getting up to use the bathroom, Kelly was returning to her bed when her legs gave out. She dropped from her feet to her knees to her face and was not able to get back to her bed till the nurses came to help. The following night, Kelly lost all sensation in her lower extremities and spent the next two weeks undergoing procedures, like a spinal tap, and other tests to determine the source of these issues. Eventually Kelly was diagnosed with Arachnoiditis (inflammation of the arachnoid, which protects the central nervous system), was told her condition was progressing quickly, and she may never be able to walk again.

Kelly is currently in an intensive rehabilitation center where she is learning how to live life from a wheelchair. Unfortunately, she will not be able to return to her home as it is not wheelchair accessible. Kelly and her family will need to move to a single-story home that can accommodate her wheelchair and other needs. Once they find a place, she will need medical equipment and home upgrades to assist her with every day living. In order to travel with her family, they will also need a new vehicle that can accommodate her wheelchair. Javier will also need to take time off of work to help with this transition, leaving them with less monthly income.

Needless to say, this condition has significantly altered Kelly and her family’s lives forever, creating many unexpected costs and hardships. For these reasons, we are reaching out to the community, friends, and family for any assistance you can provide. Whether you can donate money, your time, or even just sharing this page, any assistance is greatly appreciated. Thank you for helping to make this significant transition as smooth as possible for Kelly and her family.