Michael Rafferty - Spinal Cord Injury Fund
Donation protected
Just three days after his 69th birthday, my father Michael suffered a spinal cord injury while mountain biking, breaking the C7/T1 vertebrae and leaving him paralyzed from the chest down with limited function of the arms. After seven weeks of hospitalization, surgeries and inpatient rehabilitation he will be discharged soon but has a long road ahead of him as he adapts to life with tetraplegia. For someone who has always been an active outdoorsman (kayaking, hiking, biking, skiing) this sudden change in lifestyle will be difficult but not insurmountable for someone as determined as he is.
In order to provide my dad with the day-to-day support he needs, my parents will be relocating to Colorado to live with my sister Tracy where my brother Terry (who is a firefighter/EMT) will be a short drive away to assist with medical needs, while also giving Michael the opportunity to participate in outpatient rehabilitation and adaptive sports at the world-class spinal cord center at nearby Craig Hospital.
Tracy and her husband will be moving their family into a larger home so that there will be room for our parents, but it will still need renovations on doorways, stairs, bathrooms and counters to make them wheelchair accessible. In addition to the cost of these renovations and ongoing medical treatment, the list of medical equipment that will be needed at home is extensive:
According to the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation the average cost for the first year of low-tetraplegia is $840,676 with annual costs around $124k after that, so we appreciate any assistance you can spare to help us give Michael the best possible quality of life going forward.
https://www.christopherreeve.org/living-with-paralysis/costs-and-insurance/costs-of-living-with-spinal-cord-injury
In order to provide my dad with the day-to-day support he needs, my parents will be relocating to Colorado to live with my sister Tracy where my brother Terry (who is a firefighter/EMT) will be a short drive away to assist with medical needs, while also giving Michael the opportunity to participate in outpatient rehabilitation and adaptive sports at the world-class spinal cord center at nearby Craig Hospital.
Tracy and her husband will be moving their family into a larger home so that there will be room for our parents, but it will still need renovations on doorways, stairs, bathrooms and counters to make them wheelchair accessible. In addition to the cost of these renovations and ongoing medical treatment, the list of medical equipment that will be needed at home is extensive:
- Motorized tilt wheelchair
- Manual wheelchair
- Shower tilt wheelchair
- Wheelchair ramps and handrails
- Wheelchair van
- Hospital bed
- Hoyer lift
- Transfer boards
- Adjustable height table
- Personal medical care products
According to the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation the average cost for the first year of low-tetraplegia is $840,676 with annual costs around $124k after that, so we appreciate any assistance you can spare to help us give Michael the best possible quality of life going forward.
https://www.christopherreeve.org/living-with-paralysis/costs-and-insurance/costs-of-living-with-spinal-cord-injury
Fundraising team: Team fundraiser (3)
Jennifer Rafferty
Organizer
Cornelius, NC
Michael Rafferty
Beneficiary
Elaine Rafferty
Team member
Beverly Rafferty
Team member