StemCell Procedure for Laura Sykes

Laura is fortunate enough to have an opportunity to change her life, but she needs our help!

On November 13, 2015, Laura was the passenger in a motor vehicle accident involving a semi. She was life-flighted from Shelby, OH to Grant Medical Center in Columbus where she underwent 2 surgeries on her neck for a severe C5 injury, and began her fight for her life. This is where she and her family spent Thanksgiving; thankful she was alive.

Following a month at Grant Medical Center, she then stayed another month at the OSU campus rehabilitation center, Dodd Hall. Here is where she spent her 22nd birthday and Christmas.

Laura is a fighter and now her physical therapy is  what she most looks forward to every day. After months of traveling back and forth, several times a week, from Shelby to Martha Moorehouse Medical Plaza in Columbus at OSU for physical therapy, she has worked hard to gain more strength in her neck, arms, and hands.

However, over 7 months after the accident, Laura still has no feeling or movement from the chest down. She uses a motorized wheelchair but relies heavily on her mother as her main day-to-day caretaker. This leaves the family with the little income they receive from Disability and Social Security.

But, now Laura has the opportunity of the lifetime!! Her surgeon would like to harvest and transplant stem cells to her spine as early as July 15th! The surgeon believes this procedure is Laura's best shot at increasing her movement and feeling from the chest down, with the possibility of complete healing! Since Laura was first conscious and able to speak, days after her accident, she has vowed that she WILL walk again.

She needs our help in order to be able to undergo this stem cell procedure that could possibly change her life. We, her family, humbly ask you for any donation you may be able to give to help Laura raise the $6000+ needed in order to take advantage of this amazing opportunity . We only have a couple weeks to give Laura a shot at mobility! Any little bit helps and is greatly appreciated.

We are also very grateful for your prayers and well wishes, as always. Thank you!