Maria Needs help

It was the beginning of 2018 when my sister, Maria, suggested to ask one another New Year’s resolutions instead of doing it for self.

I told Maria without hesitation that we should do an Ironman 70.3 together... in France... to make the whole thing more fantastic. I knew she will be up for it, she had been an experienced runner, a very good bicycle rider, we had to exercise only the swimming part a bit. I knew this would mean endless hours of training together, quality talks while stretching and, nevertheless, a good opportunity for her to get back into shape after giving birth to her only daughter, Petra. These things came together wonderfully, we were in great condition. Sometimes we even took Petra to the long bicycle rides or running. This also included breast feeding on the side of the road sometimes - great stories to tell Petra when she will be older.

But than it happened. She crashed into a tree (probably loosing control on a sewage grill), and hit it with her back. Ambulance. Helicopter. Six hours of surgery. Two weeks intensive care. Since then in hospital. So quickly happened this all, sometimes we are wondering if this isn't just a nightmare which has to pass. But we are living it every day, every second.

Maria managed to overcome most of the life threatening injuries. Most, but not all of them. Her spine and spinal chord took a serious hit, and since then she is paralysed from waist below. Suddenly from a person fit enough to swim, bike and run 70.3 miles, became one who is challenged by sitting, putting on her clothes or taking a shower.

There is hope, but as usual, it is very expensive, not covered by insurance, and far beyond our budget. According to the latest research a microchip can be implanted in the spinal chord, helping the electrical impulses to overcome the injured place. With time the body builds new connections helping her to regain movement.

This is where we need your help.

Maria needs your help to stand, to walk and to run again. She needs your help to be able to stroll again with her daughter. To finish the longest Ironman ever a person did.