I wanted to share this Quality of Life story from a 2nd Cycle 2011 grantee. Providence Child Center in Portland, Oregon received a grant of $5,000 to support the durable medical equipment loaner program.

One of the pieces of equipment purchased with the funds was a special walker that helps with therapies designed for maximizing outcomes for children with paralysis and mobility impairments. Clara is shown using the walker in her home, and the note from her father expresses her parents' gratitude to the Reeve Foundation.

Best,

Donna Valente
Director of Quality of Life Grants  Read More

Two years ago, while boarding a bus in the Costa Rican town of Alajuela, Francisco Javier (pictured at right in his first power chair) faltered. The 58-year-old was pushing his wheelchair up the bus’s ramp, but without arm rails or anyone to assist him he fell back, hitting his head hard on the street below. He suffered serious injuries, which even after multiple surgeries resulted in permanent lost vision in his left eye. Read More

Back in April, I met Adrienne Lauer from Nova Southeastern University at the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) conference in Philadelphia, PA. Adrienne was very kind when she approached the Reeve Foundation's Paralysis Resource Center booth.
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Our Quality of Life Grants Program awards everything from arts and dance programs to assistance dogs. Here is what Cal State San Bernardino is doing with their most recent Quality of Life Grant they received totaling, $9,900.
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With the announcement of the Reeve Foundation's 1st cycle 2011 Quality of Life Grant recipients, we are pleased to be getting feedback from some of the grantees.

Here is what the C. Thomas Clagett Jr. Memorial Clinic and Regatta has been doing.
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This was emailed to me from friend of the Reeve Foundation, Tom Hernon at Back2Sports.net. (Tom is a great guy and pushes the boundaries of possibilities. Read more about him here). Targeted at young wheelchair athletes, Muskegon State Park is forming the world's first adaptive luge team which is a result of a Reeve Foundation Quality of Life Grant two years ago.

Here is Tom's email...
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I recently attented the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) Conference in Philadelphia on behalf of the Reeve Foundation's Paralysis Resource Center (PRC). (Read about my experience at AOTA.)
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Every now and then I see stories in the local news about previous Quality of Life grantees and what they are doing now. Just recently, Young Dance in Minneapolis, Minnesota was featured on their local CBS news for the work they are doing. They received an $8,000 Quality of Life grant to support one of their programs for young wheelchair dancers. Read about it here and watch the video.

Another story that made news around our offices Quality of Life grants recipient Living Independently for Everyone (LIFE) in Mississippi. LIFE is a wonderful organization who has received two grants from us. The most recent one in 2009 for an AmeriCorps project they sponsored, LINC (Linking Individuals into Neighborhoods and Communities) which assists individuals living with disabilities as they move from institutional settings, such as nursing homes, back into communities.

An earlier grant was awarded to LIFE in 2007 to replenish much of the medical and equipment supplies that were destroyed during Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

What I found from speaking with LIFE was more than just how much the Reeve Foundation Quality of Life Grants helped the organization, but by how much the individuals living with disabilities within LIFE were able to bond together.

"It [LINC] turned out to be the best thing in the world," says Dunaway. "It brings younger people and middle-aged people on board who have disabilities, and they are giving back to community. They are learning how to work as a team, learning skills they didn't have before hand, learning to work in an office environment. They leave us after a year or two, and have a whole wealth of skills they may not have had before."

Lawrence doesn't believe he would be as independent and healthy if it weren't for his experience with LINC. "It has given me the confidence to carry on with my life, which otherwise I believe would not be as good as it is now."

Learn more about LIFE of Mississippi and the Reeve Foundation's Quality of Life Grants program.

Janelle

Here is a an email I got last Monday (March 7th) from our contact at MetroHealth Hospital Foundation. They are a recent Quality of Life grantee:

Hi Donna,

Some wonderful things are happening here at Metro Health Hospital because of your support. I just couldn't wait for the final report to share some of the news. Check out the attached document.

Thank you so much for improving the quality of life for our ventilator dependent patients.

With utmost appreciation,

Shelly

This is a sampling from the document she attached:

Metro Health Hospital’s Assisted Breathing Center (ABC) patients have access to five laptop computers- four laptops have been assigned to specific patients and one is rotated among the remaining patients. This technology connects them with family, friends, and the outside world.

Special adapted software and devices were made available to those who would not otherwise be able to use the computer, allowing them independence, facilitating better communication with staff, and improving their quality of life.

Imagine the hardship of not only having to live attached to a ventilator, but to do so with minimal contact with your friends, family, and the world outside your hospital room. The patients at Metro Health Hospital’s Assisted Breathing Center have limited mobility, as they struggle with traumatic and debilitating injuries and disorders.

The simple ability to email friends, network on social media sites like Facebook, and surf the internet greatly improves the quality of life for patients with limited mobility or communication. The computers and adaptive equipment provided by the Christopher Reeve Foundation have led to some remarkable improvements in vitality and emotional health of the patients in the ABC.

This is how your gift has impacted the lives of these patients:

I would like to thank the Christopher Reeve Foundation for the use of this brand new laptop. I believe I’ve had it in my room for about 2 months. I am on the trach ward at Metro Health, and I wean up to 14/15 hours a day. However, due to obesity, a four week coma, several deadly infections, and all the time I’ve been in bed – sedentary, I am not yet able to walk. So, no doubt, the use of this computer has brought me so much joy!

On Facebook, I have been able to partake of several wonderful pictures, for instance, my brand new “great” niece, Olivia. My son’s new residence, and all the pictures his wife posts regularly of their new adventures. And just being able to communicate with friends and family, as they are all 3/5 hours away. I am also able to use the computer in every way possible, and enjoy every minute of it. One night, I was so enthralled that I completely forgot to order dinner! To sum it up best, let me tell you of what I wrote on Facebook “Did you know that the use of this computer was made available to me by the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation?”

My son Andrew’s comment to that was “He is a super man.” Ditto!

Thank you so much!
- Dru

Since my transfer to Metro Health Hospital Assisted Breathing Center, I have been treated with such compassion. I am paralyzed and communicating has been difficult. You have been there trying to help me be more involved. The best gift you have given me to help me speak to friends and family has been the computer you provided me. My friends and family have to travel to visit me and the computer has made it much easier to just stay in touch. It has been a God send, and I thank you so very much.
- Kathleen

Check here for more information about our Quality of Life program.

Donna Valente
Director, Quality of Life Grants

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