Help Sharonda Williams Walk Again

Hello out there on social media - my name is Serena Alvarez; I'm a longtime friend and colleague of Sharonda Williams who urgently needs your support today. Many of you know Sharonda from her non-profit work with the Westside Infant Family Network, the financial advocacy group UCES, from Pasadena/Glendale Unified School Districts, or the myriad of other outreach programs she has worked with over the years.

 

My family first met Sharonda in 2010, just after our 2year old daughter was diagnosed with Autism. The kindness, empathy, and rapport Sharonda developed with our daughter were inspirational and played a significant role in the warm and affectionate person she is today.

 

I won't mince words; due to complications from COVID-19, Sharonda experienced a life-altering autoimmune disorder that paralyzed her from the waist down. On January 9th she tested positive for COVID19 - ten days later while walking her dog Chestnut, she experienced intermittent numbness in her limbs and hips that progressively worsened. She was eventually able to make it home that day, and up her 5th floor walkup to her apartment. The following morning however, Sharonda woke up with complete paralysis below her waist. On January 20th she was rushed to the emergency room and admitted into intensive care that evening. 

 

Sharonda is now on her 12th day in the ICU, where she has undergone rigorous autoimmune and dialysis treatments to combat the infection that is attacking her nervous system. The great news is the treatments are working gradually with some touch and movement returning to her toes and feet. When the immediate autoimmune risk is mitigated, the work of regaining full function in her legs and lumbar will begin.

 

Sharonda will need a minimum of one week (ideally two) in an Acute Rehab facility to start the process of re-training her muscles and nerves to support her frame. Unfortunately, insurance does not cover this physical therapy. Today, we need your help to chip in and help Sharonda cover these expenses. The initial goal is for $7,000 to cover the two weeks in acute care. If we reach or exceed that goal by some miracle, the remaining funds will go towards Sharonda's $500 daily ICU copay or the ambulance ride to the Acute Care facility.

 

Please don't let the numbers overwhelm you; even a tiny donation from $1-$20 or whatever you can spare will help Sharonda on her path to recovery. If you would like to help in other ways please reach out in the comments, and we will find a way. Thank you for reading today and opening your heart to this cause so together we can help Sharonda #walkwithChestnut. 

 

"You are not just the drop in the ocean. You are the mighty ocean in the drop." - Rumi