My name is Jordanne Menzies and I would like to tell you a little bit about my life. I graduated from Grand Junction High School in 2003. My life was going great, I was 18 working as a waitress, attending Mesa State College and driving back and forth to Denver for my dream career in modeling. I was paying my own bills and I had just bought a brand new car. My adult life was just beginning; I was working toward a career, moving out on my own and looking forward to starting my own family.

   I will never forget that day four years ago on October 2, 2003 when my life changed instantly. After completing my shift at work I drove to Denver for an interview with a modeling agency; my best friend was along to keep me company. After the interview was over we had dinner and headed home to Grand Junction. By this time, it had already been a long day and I was trying to make it back home so that I could go to work the next day.

   At one o'clock in the morning, 15 minutes from home, I started to doze and fell asleep. The car rolled several times in the median and we were both thrown from the vehicle. My body was thrown to the other side of the interstate and almost ran over by a semi truck.

   We were transported to St. Mary's Hospital with many injuries, fortunately my best friend managed to walk away. I sustained a head injury that the doctor felt was the most life threatening, a blood clot formed and needed to be drained to release pressure from my brain. If I survived that surgery the doctor would then repair my neck injury. The doctor took hipbone to rebuild a vertebrae and I now have a metal plate in the front of my neck.    

After I awoke from the surgery, on a ventilator, I heard the devastating news that I would never walk or breathe on my own again. My modeling career was over and my first new car was demolished. I was in the ICU for three weeks before being flown to Craig Rehabilitation Hospital in Denver.

   After 2 1/2 months of being on the ventilator I started to breathe on my own. I was outfitted with a power wheelchair that I control by breathing into a tube. While at Craig Hospital I learned how to have others help care for my new needs as a quadriplegic and came home after being there for three months.

   My parents moved so we would have a house that would accommodate my new disability. We now live in a home that is equipped to handle my special needs.

   No matter how challenging life gets I have always kept a good attitude. I am thankful to be alive but it is difficult to go on without the use of my arms and legs. I am not the kind of person to let my disability hold me back. I attend Mesa State College where I am studying to become a preschool teacher. My life is getting back on track it is just not the way I had imagined. I will always hold a strong attitude through whatever life sends my way.
I have been given the opportunity to receive cord blood stem cell therapy in Costa Rica. Cord blood is the umbilical cord that a woman donates after her baby is born. This is the non-embryonic and non-abortion form of stem cell treatment. Stem cell therapy has been powerful for many people with a variety of injuries as well as debilitating diseases and has been proven effective in cell reproduction. Stem cells are injected into the body, these cells travel to the injured area and begin to reproduce, rebuilding the damaged nerves.

   This is a chance for me to be able to walk again, which is my dream and an opportunity that I want more than anything in life. I would love to have the chance to take some of the amazing current technology and see if I too can experience a miracle.

   I have been accepted for stem cell treatment at the Institute of Cellular Medicine in San Jose, Costa Rica. The Institute has been researching stem cell therapy since 2006 with many successful results. Most encouraging, to me, would be a case of a young man, named Ronald, who is a paraplegic. He has regained some strength and feeling in his upper body, and has also gained movement in his hips and legs.                                    

   This therapy is very costly, with the medical facility being in another country. Airfare, lodging and food will cost me and my accompanying caregivers approximately $10,000 to attend since I cannot fly alone or care for myself once there. The therapy itself costs $17,000, these are all uninsured expenses. I am asking for your help to get to Costa Rica and receive this incredible treatment which can help me to feel my feet, move just one arm and eventually walk again.

   Please consider donating whatever amount you feel able to give. Every little bit will be appreciated and will bring me another step toward taking my first step in many years.

   Most Gratefully Yours,


   Jordanne Menzies