Hi! My name is Jennifer and I was born with a rare AVM on my spinal cord that caused me to have four strokes.

I was paralyzed the first time at 6 from the neck down and with a lot of work was able to regain most functions. I was treated for these strokes at 19 in California and a year later, I became paralyzed from the chest down. I have gotten 2 bachelors degrees and a masters degree since getting in the wheelchair and I work full time helping other people with disabilities like me stay in their home. When I’m not working, I love walking my 2 dogs in town where one has to walk the whole town and speak to everyone he sees. I also read and do anything crafty. As someone who sits all the time and can’t move me legs, I’ve always had really bad spasms in my legs and abdomen. These spasms interfere with working and daily life as I pretty much have to stay strapped in my chair just to stay in it. I am raising money to purchase an electrical stimulation bike that I can roll my wheelchair up to and strap my legs to it so that the stimulation can get my legs to move the pedals. This will reduce my spasticity and increase my stamina which will make working so much easier on me. I have used this type of bike before in therapy and it was so beneficial but insurance won’t cover it due to it being experimental and not considered standard. It will also reduce my risk of blood clots because my legs will be moving and I hope to be able to reduce the amount of medicine I have to take to control everything. I want to thank everyone who has supported me from the beginning and those who support me now and always!