Post by scoutmom on Oct 12, 2009 7:18:04 GMT -7
Howdy Guys (and Gal)! Classy told me to come on over and check ya'll out (glad that she did). I just wanted to say "thank you" to everyone who is helping out with Alaura's Race-- this means so much to our family. Most of ya'll probably don't know us, so I thought that I would write a BRIEF bio here (I do tend to run on, so I am keeping it short).
My son, Ethan, is a Cub Scout and that is how we got into doing derby cars. That first year of the PWD his car sucked. We knew NOTHING about building them. So, I went out and educated myself-- found lots of help on websites and the PWD board (and Derby Talk). Ethan has won the District championship two years in a row, undefeated. So, I guess that we are doing something right-- but I owe a LOT of the credit to the guys I have met on sites like this. Ya'll are the best... willing to share info and answer the smallest of questions.
As for Alaura... well, she is a 14 year old girl who has more guts and determination then anyone I have ever met. She was injured in a riding accident on Jan. 20, 2008. She had been in training for competitive show jumping and was riding a school horse (her horse had a hoof abscess and was out of commission). The horse did nothing wrong-- but Alaura bobbled coming off of a jump and slipped under the horse's hooves. He stepped on her face, crushing the right side of it. The bones in her face were pulverized. She has had seven reconstructive surgeries so far. Her face has been rebuilt using plates since there was not enough bone to fuse back together. I call her my "Bionic Girl" because she is made of titanium. Anyway.... we have had constant trouble with the insurance. Alaura sustained massive damage to her right eye. The surgeon had to build a "hammock" to put it back into place, and then a wedge inserted to place it where it needs to be. Fortunately, she has sight in the eye and her vision is increasing. But, the eye was displaced so badly in the accident that it is taking several surgeries to get it back where it needs to be. There was also extensive nerve and muscle damage that complicates Alaura regaining function (she has only limited movement in the eye).
I could go on for 10 pages about Alaura's injuries. Three surgeons told us that she had the most extensive damage they had ever dealt with (these are guys who specialize in putting peoples' faces back together, so that is saying something that Alaura was their worst case). But.... I wanted to keep this brief. Alaura's main surgeon-- the ocular reconsructive specialist-- is "out of network" on our insurance. I can not begin to tell you the hell that has caused us. I will just say that we have to come up with $7,000 every year for the surgeries, and our money is now exhausted. I don't know how we will come up with the $7,000 for Alaura's next surgery in March. This is what the race and the auction are trying to raise money to help with. Plus, there are ALWAYS more medical bills even after we pay the deductibles and the "out of pocket" maximums.
We are not a rich family-- but we have always managed just fine. Probably because we live simple lives-- live in a $80,000 house, drive Fords (Jesse's truck is a 1992 F-150 with 290,000 miles on it.... still going strong). Jesse is a mechanic and I am a social worker. I work with adults who have mental retardation and mental illness. Alaura has done a lot of volunteer work with my clients. She used to do beauty pageants and has donated over 50 trophies to Special Olympics, and donated tiaras to our annual "prom" for the developmentally delayed. She works every year decorating for the dance and serving the food. She has also headed up her school's annual food drive two years. I can't think right now of everything she has done. Alaura is a very active and giving person. For a while, after the accident, she couldn't be active. She missed a half of year of school and could not participate in any activities. That was really hard for her, since she is such a people person and loves being involved in things.
I had hoped that by now the accident would be behind us. That is not going to happen for a while. My hope now is that by next summer it might be behind us. I just have to take it one day at a time, one hurdle at a time. I have had to use all of my sick and vacation time taking Alaura to doctor's appointments and surgeries. All of her doctors are in north Dallas-- about an hour and a half from our house. Needless to say, I feel exhausted and I get really "down" from time to time-- feeling like this will never end and we will always be trapped in this nightmare. So, when people like ya'll reach out and offer a helping hand it REALLY boosts my spirits! The money will be an awesome help... but the caring and feeling of us not being alone in this is even more important to me. Seeing the beautiful things that are being donated to help Alaura is a thrill for us. I ust can't explain what your caring means to us. In the beginning, people rallied around us and were there to help. But, as the weeks turned to months, and the months turned into a year and a half... people in our community moved on and forgot about us. I have to admit that it hurts. All of the groups and clubs that Alaura belonged to... we were always the first ones to pitch in and help with a project, donate money, use our time. So, I guess that I feel "abandoned" by these people. This makes your efforts even more meaningful-- people we have never met working so hard to help us. It just amazes me!
Ok, I did not keep this short. Sorry! Just know that we are so very, very thankful for your efforts on Alaura's behalf. Thanks for all that you are doing!!!
Teresa
My son, Ethan, is a Cub Scout and that is how we got into doing derby cars. That first year of the PWD his car sucked. We knew NOTHING about building them. So, I went out and educated myself-- found lots of help on websites and the PWD board (and Derby Talk). Ethan has won the District championship two years in a row, undefeated. So, I guess that we are doing something right-- but I owe a LOT of the credit to the guys I have met on sites like this. Ya'll are the best... willing to share info and answer the smallest of questions.
As for Alaura... well, she is a 14 year old girl who has more guts and determination then anyone I have ever met. She was injured in a riding accident on Jan. 20, 2008. She had been in training for competitive show jumping and was riding a school horse (her horse had a hoof abscess and was out of commission). The horse did nothing wrong-- but Alaura bobbled coming off of a jump and slipped under the horse's hooves. He stepped on her face, crushing the right side of it. The bones in her face were pulverized. She has had seven reconstructive surgeries so far. Her face has been rebuilt using plates since there was not enough bone to fuse back together. I call her my "Bionic Girl" because she is made of titanium. Anyway.... we have had constant trouble with the insurance. Alaura sustained massive damage to her right eye. The surgeon had to build a "hammock" to put it back into place, and then a wedge inserted to place it where it needs to be. Fortunately, she has sight in the eye and her vision is increasing. But, the eye was displaced so badly in the accident that it is taking several surgeries to get it back where it needs to be. There was also extensive nerve and muscle damage that complicates Alaura regaining function (she has only limited movement in the eye).
I could go on for 10 pages about Alaura's injuries. Three surgeons told us that she had the most extensive damage they had ever dealt with (these are guys who specialize in putting peoples' faces back together, so that is saying something that Alaura was their worst case). But.... I wanted to keep this brief. Alaura's main surgeon-- the ocular reconsructive specialist-- is "out of network" on our insurance. I can not begin to tell you the hell that has caused us. I will just say that we have to come up with $7,000 every year for the surgeries, and our money is now exhausted. I don't know how we will come up with the $7,000 for Alaura's next surgery in March. This is what the race and the auction are trying to raise money to help with. Plus, there are ALWAYS more medical bills even after we pay the deductibles and the "out of pocket" maximums.
We are not a rich family-- but we have always managed just fine. Probably because we live simple lives-- live in a $80,000 house, drive Fords (Jesse's truck is a 1992 F-150 with 290,000 miles on it.... still going strong). Jesse is a mechanic and I am a social worker. I work with adults who have mental retardation and mental illness. Alaura has done a lot of volunteer work with my clients. She used to do beauty pageants and has donated over 50 trophies to Special Olympics, and donated tiaras to our annual "prom" for the developmentally delayed. She works every year decorating for the dance and serving the food. She has also headed up her school's annual food drive two years. I can't think right now of everything she has done. Alaura is a very active and giving person. For a while, after the accident, she couldn't be active. She missed a half of year of school and could not participate in any activities. That was really hard for her, since she is such a people person and loves being involved in things.
I had hoped that by now the accident would be behind us. That is not going to happen for a while. My hope now is that by next summer it might be behind us. I just have to take it one day at a time, one hurdle at a time. I have had to use all of my sick and vacation time taking Alaura to doctor's appointments and surgeries. All of her doctors are in north Dallas-- about an hour and a half from our house. Needless to say, I feel exhausted and I get really "down" from time to time-- feeling like this will never end and we will always be trapped in this nightmare. So, when people like ya'll reach out and offer a helping hand it REALLY boosts my spirits! The money will be an awesome help... but the caring and feeling of us not being alone in this is even more important to me. Seeing the beautiful things that are being donated to help Alaura is a thrill for us. I ust can't explain what your caring means to us. In the beginning, people rallied around us and were there to help. But, as the weeks turned to months, and the months turned into a year and a half... people in our community moved on and forgot about us. I have to admit that it hurts. All of the groups and clubs that Alaura belonged to... we were always the first ones to pitch in and help with a project, donate money, use our time. So, I guess that I feel "abandoned" by these people. This makes your efforts even more meaningful-- people we have never met working so hard to help us. It just amazes me!
Ok, I did not keep this short. Sorry! Just know that we are so very, very thankful for your efforts on Alaura's behalf. Thanks for all that you are doing!!!
Teresa
Watch out boys, the girls are in town!!! 
