Thanks to the support of her team, Carly Decker has learned to walk again and is looking forward to returning to school in the fall.
After freshman year at college, Carly Decker went on the trip of a lifetime with her family to Iceland. They had an amazing time visiting volcanoes, geysers, hot springs and lava fields, but when Carly returned to the United States she became ill with a high fever and lost feeling in her legs. Initially unable to determine the cause of her weakness, doctors eventually discovered that Carly was suffering from a severe B12 deficiency with nitric oxide exposure from the volcanic hot springs in Iceland, leaving her unable to feel below the waist, possibly forever.
After two weeks in an acute care hospital, Carly came to PSE&G Children's Specialized Hospital in New Brunswick for rehabilitation. Upon arrival, she was unable to walk or sit up on her own. But, with six weeks of intense rehabilitative therapy, Carly regained strength and learned to walk again with the use of a walker and braces. Anxious to get back to college, Carly returned to school. Unfortunately, the stress of school and the onset of a fever and sore throat resulted in a setback.
Scared and frustrated, Carly returned home. She went to her doctors and received the diagnosis of functional movement disorder, which affects the way signals are sent throughout the brain. In an attempt to protect itself from further damage, Carly's body ultimately shut itself down, causing her to lose all the progress she had made. She could not move her legs and arm or lift her head. Carly returned to CSH, where her doctors and therapists were able to structure a comprehensive program of cognitive, psychological and physical/occupational therapies to help her learn to move and walk again even though she still cannot feel her lower half.
After almost two months of intense rehabilitation, Carly is walking again with the aid of a brace on her right leg. She's looking forward to returning to school in fall and getting her life back on track after two years of turmoil.
"Children's Specialized Hospital gave me my life back," said Carly. "The doctors, nurses and therapists challenged and encouraged me every step of the way. They didn't let me give up!"
Like most of us, Carly is planning for her future. Her future is bright thanks to the support and generosity of donors like you. Please consider your plans for the future and consider the impact that your estate plan could have on the future for kids like Carly.
To learn about ways you can make a difference for patients like Carly with a gift for the future, contact Elena Herskowitz at eherskowitz@childrens-specialized.org or 1-201-618-3133 or 1-888-CHILDREN ext. 55462.