Nicole was born with Spina Bifida. Since birth she has been paralyzed from the waist down. She has been through many surgeries, including fusing a rod to her back in order to stop her spine from growing into her internal organs. She is 25 years old and lives in Centralia. Recently we found that the rod in her back is broke. Due to the thin skin layer on her back and the complications of replacing the rod, Nicole is not a candidate for surgery to fix this rod.
Nicole is in desperate need of a new wheelchair. The wheelchair will be fitted to her and keep her body straighter and prolong her life. This will not fix the problem but it WILL give her more time with us. They have already fitted her to a new wheelchair and it is in the process of being made. The cost of this new chair is around $14,000.00.
UPDATE: Nicole's mom got news that the wheelchair is going to cost over $20,000 to include the hydraulic lift which Nicole needs so she does not have to reach for stuff in cabinets, on shelves, etc.
UP TO DATE: They announced at the benefit that there was over $10,000 raised, I tell ya you all are some amazing people.
BUT what made me cry that day was to find out once Nicole gets her new wheelchair, the one she is in will get donated to a little girl with Spina Bifida that currently does not have an electric wheelchair. Here we were at a benefit for someone who is in need of something, and they were still doing for others. These are the kind of people I am proud to call my family. And to let you know it still makes me cry!!!
To make a donation, send checks to:
Banterra Bank
Memo section:
Nicole Guthrie Benefit
3520 Broadway
Mt.Vernon, IL 62864
Or donate here via Paypal
Spina Bifida means cleft spine, which is an incomplete closure in the spinal column. In general, the three types of spina bifida (from mild to severe) are:
1. Spina Bifida Occulta: There is an opening in one or more of the vertebrae (bones) of the spinal column without apparent damage to the spinal cord.
2. Meningocele: The meninges, or protective covering around the spinal cord, has pushed out through the opening in the vertebrae in a sac called the "meningocele." However, the spinal cord remains intact. This form can be repaired with little or no damage to the nerve pathways.
3. Myelomeningocele: This is the most severe form of spina bifida, in which a portion of the spinal cord itself protrudes through the back. In some cases, sacs are covered with skin; in others, tissue and nerves are exposed. Generally, people use the terms "spina bifida" and "myelomeningocele" interchangeably.
Approximately 40% of all Americans may have spina bifida occulta, but because they experience little or no symptoms, very few of them ever know that they have it. The other two types of spina bifida, meningocele and myelomeningocele, are known collectively as "spina bifida manifesta," and occur in approximately one out of every thousand births. Of these infants born with "spina bifida manifesta," about 4% have the meningocele form, while about 96% have myelomeningocele form.
(taken from sbac.org)
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