Jon Perry Spinal Cord Injury Recovery Fund

On Father’s Day, June 21, 2020, Jon was celebrating with his family.  He was playing a game with his two daughters and jumped sideways into a pool.  Somehow he hit the water at exactly the wrong angle which resulted in a severe cervical spinal cord injury. He was instantly paralyzed from the shoulders down and did not surface to the top. His daughters recognized that something was very wrong and then lifted him to the surface and swam him to the steps, saving his life.  911 was called and he was admitted to the hospital.  He underwent emergency surgery that night to remove a disc that was bulging into his spinal cord and to fuse his C3-4 vertebrae.  On Monday, he could not feel or move anything from his shoulders down. He has been in the ICU at Virginia Beach General since the accident. Over the course of the last week, he has regained some sensations on his forearms, hands, knees, calves, and feet, but has not regained any ability to move.   

Jon’s injury is the most severe variety of a spinal cord injury and often results in quadriplegia. The healing process, a reduction of swelling, and rehabilitation will give doctors a better idea of the long term extent of his injury. General effects of an injury to the C4 nerves like Jon has are paralysis in arms, hands, trunk and legs. Jon will require a motorized wheelchair after his return home.

Jon is a father of two daughters ages 12 and 16 that he absolutely adores. His loving wife Amy of 17 years is an elementary school teacher at Cape Henry Collegiate. Jon graduated from Cox High School and The University of Virginia,  and is a mechanical engineer.  He enjoys spending time at the beach with his family and was an avid runner who ran half and full marathons. 

This accident is devastating.  Amy worked hard to find the best rehabilitation care possible and Jon has been accepted to Shepherd Rehabilitation Center in Atlanta.  Within the next week or so he will take a medical flight air ambulance to fly him to Shepherd. Amy will move to Atlanta to be with him during his rehabilitation. 

Additionally, major modifications will need to be made to their two-story family home. Ramps will need to be installed, doorways widened, counters lowered if possible, a bathroom will need to be built and a room transformed into a handicapped accessible bedroom. Equipment such as a hospital bed, a hoyer lift system to transfer Jon out of bed into a wheelchair, a power wheelchair, a manual wheelchair, a hands free telephone system and a wheelchair accessible van will need to be purchased.  In addition to these modifications, he will have the cost of daily medicine, in home nursing care, and physical and occupational therapy. If you would like to read more about Shepherd or Jon’s type of injury the information can be found at https://www.shepherd.org/patient-programs/spinal-cord-injury/Cervical-Spinal-Cord-Injury

We are grateful for the strides Jon has made since the accident and are hopeful for continued improvement. Positive thoughts and prayers for this family in need are appreciated. If you feel moved to help make a difference in the Perry family’s lives at this crucial time, they would be grateful for any financial support to help offset the burdensome medical and legal related costs associated with this lifelong trauma.