Help Support a Teacher after a serious Assault.

GoFundMe Profile for Sophie Cole:

**About Sophie:**

Sophie Cole is a passionate and dedicated teacher based in Cork, Ireland.

Unfortunately, her life took a tragic turn when she was seriously assaulted in her classroom.

Her left hand was smashed into a steel reinforced table leaving her with permanent nerve damage.

This assault has left her with a life altering injury.

**The Impact:**

As a result of this assault, Sophie now suffers from Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) in her left arm.

It is known as the worlds most painful, incurable condition.

CRPS is a debilitating condition characterised by persistent, excruciating pain.

This condition has primarily affected her left hand, leading to a complete loss of function.

Sophie's pain is constant.

She describes it as:

Someone forcibly holding her hand into an extremely hot fire while rubbing it back & forth over a really large cheese grater.

She can no longer drive, shower independently, wash her own hair or cut up her own meals.

Simple daily tasks have become extremely difficult for her.

The assault not only impacted Sophie physically but has also stripped away her independence.

She can no longer work, take part in her numerous hobbies or drive.

This limits her ability to engage with the world around her.

The emotional toll of losing her wage as a result of an assault in the classroom cannot be overstated, and it has created additional challenges in her daily life.

**What We Need:**

We are reaching out to the community to ask for your support as Sophie navigates this difficult journey.

Sophie was entitled to just three months Assault Leave Pay.

She has been out of work two years and will now lose her social welfare illness benefit.

She has already been denied invalidity but has been appealed.

This may take up to 17 weeks all the while leaving Sophie without an income.

The funds raised through this GoFundMe campaign will be STRICTLY used for:

**Ongoing Medical Expenses:**

To cover the upfront costs of therapies, medications, and doctor's visits that are essential for managing her condition.

**Consideration of Treatment Abroad:**

Sophie is exploring potential treatments that may not be available within Ireland & which could improve her quality of life and potentially help her reduce her pain to a somewhat tolerable level.

**Necessary Home Adaptations:**

To make necessary modifications to her home ensuring she has an environment which works for her.

As Sophie only has the use of one arm there are numerous modifications that can be made to make her home adaptable & more accessible while also increasing her independence.

**How You Can Help:**

Your generous contributions, no matter the size, will make a significant difference in Sophie’s life.

Together, we can provide her with the necessary resources to manage her pain, regain some independence, and pursue treatment options that may help her in her recovery.

Thank you for supporting Sophie Cole during this challenging time.

Your kindness and compassion means the world to her.