On May 29th, 2020, my dear friend, Laura was traveling home from work one evening in Chicago, IL. when a drunk driver went airborne and struck Laura’s car head-on crushing her. Because of this accident, Laura sustained a C2-C5 spinal cord injury and a traumatic brain injury.
The community and family surrounding Laura were left in utter disbelief. One factor that compounded this confusion, worry, sadness, despair, and panic of emotions was that it happened during the Covid pandemic, and Laura could not have any visitors initially, and when she could eventually, she had only one family member at a short visiting time each day. Everyone is so grateful for the amazing healthcare team that took care of Laura.
We all did a lot of praying. One thing that opened those lines of communication and prayers was a website called Caring Bridge. Laura’s sister and mom would post daily or weekly updates for her condition, and we in turn could send messages of love and prayers back to Laura.
The new norm: consists of a lot of helpers, caregivers, and friends alike who know what showing up means for Laura. We show up for each other in every way possible. I know it is important for Laura to live as normally as possible. Laura now lives with her brother, sister-in-law, and their two young children. Laura has physical therapy and occupational therapy weekly. She is always eager to go to these sessions as many of her therapists have become like family to her.
For someone who has a family member who is newly injured, I would want them to be assured to know that there Is a community out there who cares, who is doing research, and that there is HOPE. Keep searching for answers that your doctors might not know the answer to.
I know from my research team, which I am a part of here in the United States, that there is research going on showing axon regeneration, neural plasticity, and Schwann cell regeneration which holds hope for those with a spinal cord injury. Learn more in our Glossary
"For someone who has a family member who is newly injured, I would want them to be assured to know that there Is a community out there who cares, who is doing research, and that there is HOPE."