Jess & Rey's Adaptive 1st Home
Started January 24, 2018
Recent Activity
CMG Financial (lender) contribution paid towards closing costs, per applicable regulations.
Jess & Rey's Adaptive 1st Home
Our Story
To our dear friends, family and our community,
Many of you know our story but for those of you who don't, I would like to share my favorite love story of all time (aka #ItsThatWheelKindOfLove).
On February 12, 2009, just 2 weeks before his 20th birthday, Rey was on his way to work as a Firefighter riding his motorcycle. He had just left his house and had not even left his neighborhood when a driver ran him off the road, leaving him for dead, quite literally. The driver never stopped, it was a hit and run. Rey flew off his bike into a neighbor's picket fence as his motorcycle and hot radiator water landed on top of him. His friend/mail carrier was the one to find him, identify him and call 911. As a result, Rey suffered both lungs collapsing, shoulder fracture and dislocation, broken clavicle, 10 broken ribs, and was resuscitated 3 times (on scene, by helicopter and at the trauma center). Rey spent his 20th birthday in the hospital. He is very blessed to be alive today. He now lives with metal rods in his back and paralyzed from the waist down with a Spinal Cord Injury.
I, Jessika, learned about a benign lipoma tumor growing compressed against my spine at the age of 14. Doctors described the size of the tumor as "the length of a hot dog and width of a baseball" compressed against my spine. While my classmates in high school were preparing for our first homecoming dance as Freshman, I was preparing for major surgery. With 75% of the tumor removed successfully, 9 hours of surgery later and 3 months of outpatient physical therapy, I was back on my feet and back to my crazy, active able-bodied self. Doctors and myself monitored the tumor via MRI every 6 months, then every year, then every 3 years until it was no longer a medical concern. I never thought about that tumor again. Fast forward to the very physically active 26-year-old Jessika and something was slowing me down. I started losing sensation in the lower half of my body. When I showered, I could not feel hot or cold hitting parts of my legs. With my medical history, of course, it was a cause for concern. I went to see a neurologist who confirmed via MRI that the tumor had fully grown back and we needed to schedule emergency surgery. On December 14, 2012, I would go in for surgery. Prior to, I reassured all my worried friends and family that I had been thru this once and I would get thru it again. Another 9 hour surgery with 45% of the tumor removed and 3 hours in ICU before I could see any family members and I woke up. However, this time was different than the first. This time I had gone into surgery able-bodied and woke up paralyzed. It was a risk going into surgery. You know when they say "hope for the best but prepare for the worst"? I had the hope but I was not prepared. I was paralyzed from the high chest area down, couldn't feel a thing. I spent Christmas and New Years in rehab. This was definitely not like the 1st time & I had to get used to my "new normal".
Enter Prince Charming...ahem...I mean Rey into my life at such a pivotal moment. Even though we were both paralyzed, we were both very involved in our community and helping others. We value what we are able to do instead of what we "can't" do. We met at a charity event and kept in contact (more like Jessika Facebook stalking Rey, yes, I can admit it, don't pretend like you don't do it too!). Rey started coming over to peer mentor me and I must say, I majorly disliked him, but secretly, I adored him all at the same time. Our first task was to get on the floor and get back in my chair. He said, "It's going to happen. You will fall and you need to learn how to get back up." After about an hour, I did it...then he told me to do it again as if it were so easy and he didn't see the sweat and struggle in my face (see where the "majorly dislike" part comes into play). Rey taught me everything about life in a wheelchair. When I thought it would be impossible, he taught me how to pop wheelies, transfer in and out of a car, got me driving lessons, test drove the car I would later buy and call my own. Above all, he taught me that with a little hope, a lot of hard work and determination, there is life beyond paralysis and a very active one at that. He never once judged me but instead embraced me and accepted me for me.
This peer mentorship would turn into a friendship that would quickly turn into love, it's that wheel kind of love! We have known each other for 4 years and have been dating for 3 years and have committed to taking the next step in our relationship, buying our first home together. We are very blessed to have our families homes to live in right now but it is not the most ideal situation. I live in a 2-story home with my bedroom on the 2nd floor. I went a couple years going up and down the stairs on my tush before getting a stairlift. But the stairlift I have now does not allow me to be independent and I need help getting in and out of my house. Paralysis and 2 story homes do not mix, especially when the power goes out and the lift stops working. Much thanks to my local Fire Department that has helped get me in and out of my home quite a few times.
Rey and I both work full-time and are actively involved in our community, raising awareness for people with disabilities and advocating for the rights of all who are differently-abled. We have been saving and searching for a home to call our own. A home where we can build a foundation to better our community. That's one thing we love about each other is that we innately love helping others in any capacity we can. That's how we met and how we see ourselves in the future for the rest of our lives. We have learned a lot from our amazing realtor & lender and as much as we have saved, the prices of homes are only going up and really we have to take into account that we need to adapt the future home we find to our wheelchair accessible needs. We hope we have a home to open our doors to you in the near future!
We are reaching out to our loved ones to help share our story and our vision for our future and help us reach our goal. Even if you can't donate, please help by sharing our story. We appreciate all the help!
Love always,
Jess & Rey
#ItsThatWheelKindOfLove
To learn more about us and our involvement in our community, please visit my website at www.jessikakattah.com & friend us on social media!
Love,
Rey & Jess
#ItsThatWheelKindOfLove
Meet the Team
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