Standing Donation

My name is Desmond Harper, I’m seventeen year old from Chicago,Illinois and a senior at Thornwood High school. On June, 17, 2016 I was in an unfortunate accident while wrestling with friend of mine. I damaged the c5 and c6 sections of my spinal cord (lower neck region), which left me paralyzed from the neck down.

Thanks to surgery, physical therapy, occupational therapy, & God, I have regained sensation in most of my body, motor skills from my stomach to my neck, and some voluntary movements in my hands. However I am however still unable to walk, stand, move my legs, battle with muscle spasms, and control bowel and bladder. The inability to do these things has given me a very dependent and unfulfilled life at such a young age.

In 2017 a physical therapist at the Shirley Ryan Abilitylab (formerly known as the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago or R.I.C) showed me a video of the work being done at Unique Access Medical in Bangkok, Thailand where they were researching stem cells and the effect on damaged spinal chords. The procedure has given many people back voluntary movement and the abilities to stand walk and control bladder and bowel.

After a couple months of research I sent an inquiry into Epidural Stimulation and asked about receiving the treatment. Unfortunately insurance does not cover it and it is not in the United States so I am trying to raise the money for travel and surgery by myself. I’m raising money in hopes that the surgery can get me back on my feet and let me be the independent and happy person I once was.

The money donated will be used to help me pay for the epidural stimulation surgery, physical therapy, occupational therapy, medications, travel expenses and anything else insurance may not cover.

Thank you to everybody who may donate or share this campaign. If you can’t donate a share is just as appreciated. For more information on the procedure click on the following links.

Brenda McCullough will be acting as a beneficiary in withdrawing my funds because when I made the campaign I was not yet 18 and therefore was ineligible for withdrawing them myself. Again thank you all so much everything’s appreciated.

https://epiduralstimulationnow.com/

https://epiduralstimulationnow.com/testimonial/andrew-valadka/