Navigating a New Normal and Fighting for Miracles

On Tuesday, May 9th, Sharon underwent emergency spinal surgery for an infection that traveled to her spinal cord. The surgery was successful in as it removed the abscess but unfortunately, her spinal column suffered severe damage as the result, leaving her a quadriplegic. Sharon spent nearly three weeks in the hospital fighting the infection and other complications. Once medically stable, she was transferred to Kessler Rehabilitation Hospital in West Orange , NJ for intensive rehabilitation. Sharon is now working hard at both physical and occupational therapy trying to learn new daily living and self care skills. Sharon does have feeling in her arms and is working at regaining strength and control of them, unfortunately her hands are not as responsive and she has no feeling or control from her mid-torso down and will be dependent on a motorized wheelchair for mobility.

Sharon is no stranger to health challenges. She’s been living with Rheumatoid Arthritis since the age of 2, has had two hip replacements and battled thyroid cancer. She is also facing another surgery August 1st to stabilize her spine. Prior to this recent challenge. Sharon fulfilled her childhood dream and worked as a Preschool Special-Ed Teacher for the last eighteen years. She is a loving mother to her beautiful three-year old son, Joey.

This latest challenge may be Sharon’s hardest yet, but she has a positive attitude and is determined with the support of her family, friends, and many modifications to regain as much of her independence as possible. When Sharon leaves Kessler, she will require ongoing outpatient rehabilitation at the same time learning how to adapt to her life at home from a wheelchair. The reality of Sharon’s injury is not only daunting physically and emotionally but financially as well. To make Sharon’s home life manageable, she will need home modifications, including a wheelchair lift for access into her home, an accessible bathroom, widen doorways to accommodate her power wheelchair and a multitude of other expenses not covered by insurance to aid in her daily living, for example: an elevating wheelchair seat, adaptive personal care items, accessible exercise equipment, etc. Sharon will also need home health care to monitor her medically and help prevent common complications of her condition. She will also need a wheelchair accessible vehicle to get to her outpatient rehabilitation and therapies, future doctor appointments or even just to go to the park with her husband and son. Sharon wants nothing more then to get back home with her family and especially to taking care of her son. She’ll need a lot of support to ensure she has access to everything necessary to make that happen. We thank you for your donations and any and all prayers towards her rehabilitation, recovery and maybe even a miracle .