Help Jamie Richards Heal
Donation protected
Why your help is needed:
Not exactly what we were expecting, we just knew something was wrong. On January 21, 2019 bloodwork work that morning, we found out Jamie now has Leukemia. It is critical & they started Chemotherapy as soon as we arrived at the ER. As if she hasn’t gone through enough this past year.
The technical diagnosis is Acute promyelocytic leukemia.
It’s a very rare form of cancer, that super aggressive. But we are told treatments are pretty accurate. The doctors said if you’re going to have Leukemia, this is the best kind to have. They have already given her several platelet transfusions, inserted a PICC line and took a bone marrow biopsy to see exactly what they’re dealing with.
We will remain admitted at the this hospital for a while. Jamie is taking two kinds of chemo- oral and by IV. The IV chemo is a 21 day treatment, so we are looking at a minimum of 3 weeks.... but depending on how she handles the chemo. If they have to stop treatment for a day or two due to issues it will be a longer stay. After this IV treatment is completed, they will do another bone marrow biopsy & then will determine the next course of action.
Many have asked if there’s anything you could do to help besides helping financially. One idea could be DoorDash or Uber Eats, Chick FIL A, etc. Jamie’s not a big fan of hospital food & it’s important for her to eat. The oncologist gave her two jobs- eat everything you want & drink plenty of fluids.
My 19-year-old daughter, Jamie Richards Hogland, was shot in the face on the night of Dec. 10, 2017, and left to die in her apartment. After four long hours, she was eventually found by a neighbor. Jamie was airlifted to John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth, where we were informed that she was quadriplegic and her spine had been shattered and spinal cord severed, along with many other serious health concerns. On Dec. 27, 2017, she was stable enough to be flown by air ambulance to TIRR Memorial Hermann to begin the first phase of her rehabilitation.
Jamie had just finished up her finals for the semester the week before. She decided to stay in Stephenville, Texas an additional week to earn extra money for Christmas. She was laying in bed Sunday night when there was a knock on her door. Children in apartment complex had been playing games by knocking on doors and running off. Jamie assumed that it was them again and opened her door. However, it was an armed man and he pointed a gun to her face. All Jamie had time to do was say, "Wait!". She was instantly paralyzed. We now know, the shooter was at the wrong building and wrong door. He was looking for someone else.
Anyone who has ever met Jamie knows what a loving sweet soul she is. She has a deep rooted faith in God and has shared his grace to others by demonstrating a loving kindness seldom found. She has a strength that developed through adversity and faith that has never waivered.
We are so proud of Jamie and how she has flourished as student at Tarleton State University. She has excelled in her studies, worked for the University, and experienced the most rewarding parts of student life.
Our Fundraising Goal:
The purpose of this campaign is to assist Jamie and her family with expenses in the wake of this devastating injury.
During our initial stay at TIRR Memorial Hermann for phase one of her therapy, Jamie, my husband Eddie, and I learned the necessary skills that were required so we could give Jamie the best possible care at home once we were discharged. We received hands-on training from Jamie’s entire medical team: Occupational Therapists, Physical Therapists, Recreational Therapists, Nurses and Respiratory Therapists. They guided us and trained us on the unique needs Jamie would now have, and how we could continue to assist Jamie in gaining strength and her independence.
Along with learning about Jamie’s needs, her injuries required additional changes in our life such as modifications to our home. While I stayed by Jamie’s side, my husband worked diligently to adapt our house to be more wheelchair accessible. By the grace of God, we were in the process of adding on a bedroom prior to the shooting, so we had an opportunity to create a space tailored for her recovery. We had learned that many times people with a spinal cord injury lose the ability to control their body temperature below their level of injury. Due to the location of Jamie’s spinal cord injury, she will need to be in a very controlled environment. While the additional bedroom had already been electrically wired to meet accessibility standards, my husband noticed our heating system wasn’t working properly and he contacted a service company to fix the issue before Jamie came home.
Jamie has always loved to cook, so the next task was to widen the doorway into our kitchen so she could enter easily. Eddie decided to take out a portion of our bar and then he re-framed the doorway. With this minor change, Jamie has been able to access the kitchen and enjoys baking brownies with her sister. She has learned to open and close the refrigerator independently to get whatever she desires.
Building a ramp was the last home modification Eddie performed that was immediately essential. He built a ramp on our back patio so Jamie can enter and exit our home freely. Of course, there have been simple changes that were made like rearranging the furniture layout and such, but we have learned to adjust accordingly and to think outside the box.
We refinanced our home in order to pay for some of the modifications.
The only modification still needed in our home is in the bathroom and shower area. The bathroom is too narrow and the shower is not wheelchair accessible. During a therapy session, the therapist gave us the specifications to guide us and we are in the process of getting quotes for this modification to our home.
Prior to discharge from the first phase of her rehabilitation at TIRR Memorial Hermann, we purchased a handicap accessible van because Jamie wanted to ensure she could get back into the community and not be stuck at home. Plus, she knew she would have numerous ongoing appointments. The van we purchased has a lift that folds out and the van lowers to the ground. Jamie can drive her electric wheelchair up the ramp, spin around to face the front and then we secure her into place with safety belts. When the time comes and Jamie is strong enough to drive, the van can be adapted to fit her specific needs.
The amount of love and support we’ve received throughout this journey has been surreal. I couldn’t have made it without the compassionate and encouraging physicians and staff at TIRR Memorial Hermann, our friends and family. We have a long journey ahead and I’ve learned not to be afraid to ask for help and guidance. I’ve also learned it’s important to take care of yourself and understand you cannot tackle this task on your own! Life changes in a blink of an eye. Rejoice when your loved ones are achieving or exceeding their therapy goals, encourage each other when difficulties arise, and never forget life is a gift so make the most of each day!
I am grateful that Jamie has recovered movement in both arms and hands, as well as gained some strength throughout her upper body. Jamie will require continued therapy and 24 hour per day care for some time to come. We have medical insurance but, covered expenses are almost maxed out.
The costs of medical treatment & surgery, transportation, and lodging certainly adds up quickly. As such, we ask you to support Jamie and her family by making a donation today.
Not exactly what we were expecting, we just knew something was wrong. On January 21, 2019 bloodwork work that morning, we found out Jamie now has Leukemia. It is critical & they started Chemotherapy as soon as we arrived at the ER. As if she hasn’t gone through enough this past year.
The technical diagnosis is Acute promyelocytic leukemia.
It’s a very rare form of cancer, that super aggressive. But we are told treatments are pretty accurate. The doctors said if you’re going to have Leukemia, this is the best kind to have. They have already given her several platelet transfusions, inserted a PICC line and took a bone marrow biopsy to see exactly what they’re dealing with.
We will remain admitted at the this hospital for a while. Jamie is taking two kinds of chemo- oral and by IV. The IV chemo is a 21 day treatment, so we are looking at a minimum of 3 weeks.... but depending on how she handles the chemo. If they have to stop treatment for a day or two due to issues it will be a longer stay. After this IV treatment is completed, they will do another bone marrow biopsy & then will determine the next course of action.
Many have asked if there’s anything you could do to help besides helping financially. One idea could be DoorDash or Uber Eats, Chick FIL A, etc. Jamie’s not a big fan of hospital food & it’s important for her to eat. The oncologist gave her two jobs- eat everything you want & drink plenty of fluids.
My 19-year-old daughter, Jamie Richards Hogland, was shot in the face on the night of Dec. 10, 2017, and left to die in her apartment. After four long hours, she was eventually found by a neighbor. Jamie was airlifted to John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth, where we were informed that she was quadriplegic and her spine had been shattered and spinal cord severed, along with many other serious health concerns. On Dec. 27, 2017, she was stable enough to be flown by air ambulance to TIRR Memorial Hermann to begin the first phase of her rehabilitation.
Jamie had just finished up her finals for the semester the week before. She decided to stay in Stephenville, Texas an additional week to earn extra money for Christmas. She was laying in bed Sunday night when there was a knock on her door. Children in apartment complex had been playing games by knocking on doors and running off. Jamie assumed that it was them again and opened her door. However, it was an armed man and he pointed a gun to her face. All Jamie had time to do was say, "Wait!". She was instantly paralyzed. We now know, the shooter was at the wrong building and wrong door. He was looking for someone else.
Anyone who has ever met Jamie knows what a loving sweet soul she is. She has a deep rooted faith in God and has shared his grace to others by demonstrating a loving kindness seldom found. She has a strength that developed through adversity and faith that has never waivered.
We are so proud of Jamie and how she has flourished as student at Tarleton State University. She has excelled in her studies, worked for the University, and experienced the most rewarding parts of student life.
Our Fundraising Goal:
The purpose of this campaign is to assist Jamie and her family with expenses in the wake of this devastating injury.
During our initial stay at TIRR Memorial Hermann for phase one of her therapy, Jamie, my husband Eddie, and I learned the necessary skills that were required so we could give Jamie the best possible care at home once we were discharged. We received hands-on training from Jamie’s entire medical team: Occupational Therapists, Physical Therapists, Recreational Therapists, Nurses and Respiratory Therapists. They guided us and trained us on the unique needs Jamie would now have, and how we could continue to assist Jamie in gaining strength and her independence.
Along with learning about Jamie’s needs, her injuries required additional changes in our life such as modifications to our home. While I stayed by Jamie’s side, my husband worked diligently to adapt our house to be more wheelchair accessible. By the grace of God, we were in the process of adding on a bedroom prior to the shooting, so we had an opportunity to create a space tailored for her recovery. We had learned that many times people with a spinal cord injury lose the ability to control their body temperature below their level of injury. Due to the location of Jamie’s spinal cord injury, she will need to be in a very controlled environment. While the additional bedroom had already been electrically wired to meet accessibility standards, my husband noticed our heating system wasn’t working properly and he contacted a service company to fix the issue before Jamie came home.
Jamie has always loved to cook, so the next task was to widen the doorway into our kitchen so she could enter easily. Eddie decided to take out a portion of our bar and then he re-framed the doorway. With this minor change, Jamie has been able to access the kitchen and enjoys baking brownies with her sister. She has learned to open and close the refrigerator independently to get whatever she desires.
Building a ramp was the last home modification Eddie performed that was immediately essential. He built a ramp on our back patio so Jamie can enter and exit our home freely. Of course, there have been simple changes that were made like rearranging the furniture layout and such, but we have learned to adjust accordingly and to think outside the box.
We refinanced our home in order to pay for some of the modifications.
The only modification still needed in our home is in the bathroom and shower area. The bathroom is too narrow and the shower is not wheelchair accessible. During a therapy session, the therapist gave us the specifications to guide us and we are in the process of getting quotes for this modification to our home.
Prior to discharge from the first phase of her rehabilitation at TIRR Memorial Hermann, we purchased a handicap accessible van because Jamie wanted to ensure she could get back into the community and not be stuck at home. Plus, she knew she would have numerous ongoing appointments. The van we purchased has a lift that folds out and the van lowers to the ground. Jamie can drive her electric wheelchair up the ramp, spin around to face the front and then we secure her into place with safety belts. When the time comes and Jamie is strong enough to drive, the van can be adapted to fit her specific needs.
The amount of love and support we’ve received throughout this journey has been surreal. I couldn’t have made it without the compassionate and encouraging physicians and staff at TIRR Memorial Hermann, our friends and family. We have a long journey ahead and I’ve learned not to be afraid to ask for help and guidance. I’ve also learned it’s important to take care of yourself and understand you cannot tackle this task on your own! Life changes in a blink of an eye. Rejoice when your loved ones are achieving or exceeding their therapy goals, encourage each other when difficulties arise, and never forget life is a gift so make the most of each day!
I am grateful that Jamie has recovered movement in both arms and hands, as well as gained some strength throughout her upper body. Jamie will require continued therapy and 24 hour per day care for some time to come. We have medical insurance but, covered expenses are almost maxed out.
The costs of medical treatment & surgery, transportation, and lodging certainly adds up quickly. As such, we ask you to support Jamie and her family by making a donation today.
Organiser
Jessica Renee Hogland
Organiser
Conroe, TX