Dear Family and Friends
As many of your know, this past year has been a struggle for me and my family as I have worked to overcome complications from my spinal fusion surgery.
After having to spend eight weeks in bed at Children's Hosptial Boston for pain management, continued pain and muscle weakness prevented me from walking. It even made sitting for short periods difficult and I had to use a wheelchair or lie in bed. It was a scary time. Lucky for me, my doctors sent me to the pediatric program at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital in Boston - a place where I soon learned and witnessed, miracles happen.
The people at Spaulding were so nice, and it soon felt more like home. They helped me with PT and OT and soon I was able to get around in my wheelchair and sit up, and start walking for short distances. I lived with other children with injuries or diseases much worse than my own. They showed me how important inner strength and attitude is in the journey of life and we had a lot of fun and supported each other like a family.
The staff who work with these children are truly amazing. They support kids and their families through difficult times. Their care, endless energy and "never say never" attitude is inspiring. That is why I wanted to organize a fundraiser, to help raise money for a very special pediatric patient fund that they use to support the personal needs of the familes that stay there.
This fund has provided bus fare and subway tickets to parents so that they could visit their children, slippers for children who had none, special toys or presents to lift the spirits of a child who is struggling, and even a meal out for a family who had been living bedside for many weeks and just needed a break.
This fund gives the Spaulding staff the flexibility to offer random acts of kindness to families that are often struggling. I witnessed firsthand, how much these simple acts mean to the families and I wanted to help raise funds to help this goodwill to continue.
You can donate by clicking on the button below. Or, you can write a check made out to Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital listing Michaela Sullivan in the memo section and send it to:
Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital,
125 Nashua Street
Boston, MA 02114,
Attn: Suzanne Adams/Pediatric Floor.
All donations will support he Pediatric Unit which not only cares for kids, but helps out their families too. For more information about the Child and Adolescent Rehabilitation Program which the donated funds will support please see the following internet link:
http: //www.spauldingrehab.org/ourgprograms/pediatricdetails
Thank you so much for your support & wishing you and your family a blessed holiday season!
Love,
Michaela & the Sullivan Family