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Coast Guardsman Paralyzed in Attack

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Jennifer Smith is an amazing 25-year old woman who has served her country in the U.S. Coast Guard for the past 6 years.  On December 10, 2015, while vacationing in San Pedro, Belize, Jenny was brutally attacked and stabbed during a mugging near the beach.  The assailant stabbed her twice; once in the back of the head and then again at the top of her back, resulting in a spinal cord injury and subsequent paralysis down the left side of her body from the abdomen down.

An extraordinary young couple, Jenny and her husband James now face a mountain of challenges as they work towards Jenny's long road to recovery and are abruptly forced to adjust to their changed way of life.  Please help ease the immense financial burden they are now facing with physical therapy, purchase of a handicap-accessible vehicle, ramp, and other handicap-accessible items, relocation needs for both long-term inpatient care and closer proximity to extended family to lend assistance, etc.  Helping them in these ways will allow Jenny and James to focus their energy toward the physical and emotional strains this tragic incident has inflicted upon them.

To give you an idea of the kind of person Jenny is, she had plans to pursue a career as a veterinarian or social worker upon completion of her service with the Coast Guard.  This is a testament to her instinctively giving nature.  She lives to help others. She and her husband not only took in 3 rescue dogs, but also took in 3 children last year who were in need of a better life.  Without hesitation, this loving and inspirational couple bought their first home to accommodate the addition of the 3 girls (ages 7-12) and warmly welcomed them into their home.  They provided a loving environment, a structured lifestyle, and met the educational needs for these special girls who desperately needed it.  [Unfortunately for Jenny and James, after a year, the biological mother ultimately took these girls back despite the fact that Jenny and her husband were prepared to adopt the children as their own.]

Jenny is a kind, caring, strong and generous person.  This senseless act of violence which nearly killed her should not serve to steal the bright and deserving future that Jenny inevitably had ahead of her.  Her inner strength and love and support from all those who care about her will carry her through this difficult time.  We all continue to pray for a miracle that she will walk again.

Please find it in your heart to assist this deserving family with their financial struggle and the difficult road ahead.  In the spirit of the holiday season, this would be the greatest gift you could ever give to someone too proud to ever ask others for assistance.  Every dollar will help, so perhaps skip your next Starbucks coffee and put that $5 toward this truly good cause.  

Lastly, in gratitude for the service this brave young woman has given OUR country, let’s show Jenny how we will help serve HER and her recovery needs with your caring and generous donations.  Thank you and God bless!
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Donations 

  • Julie Fisher
    • $50
    • 7 yrs
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Organizer and beneficiary

Erika Neuser
Organizer
Sterling Heights, MI
Jennifer Smith
Beneficiary

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