If you would like to make a donation to help with expenses for Cherie's care and recovery not covered by Medicaid, please click on the button below to go to www.HelpHopeLive.org PLEASE DONATE It does not have to be a lot of money. A little bit of help from a lot of people can make a huge difference for someone in Cherie's position. Please forward this website to friends and family you think may be interested in helping or that we may have missed on our email list. Your contribution, goodwill, and support are greatly appreciated. Thank you so much, Family and Friends of Cherie Ann Stannard Art with Heart by Elizabeth St. Hilaire Nelson | 100% of proceeds of this book go to Cherie's family. Contact us: Sue Merrick, Cherie's sister: merrickc@bellsouth.net Alison Stannard, Cherie's sister-in-law: Alison@bobdogdesign.com Write to Cherie at: Cherie Stannard C/o Sue Merrick 515 11th Court Vero Beach, FL 32962

On September 30, 2010, Cherie Ann Stannard became entrapped in her Jeep after it rolled and landed on its roof following a single-vehicle crash. There was another car involved that did not stop.

Rescuers had to cut into the vehicle to remove her from the wreckage. Cherie was flown to Lawnwood Regional Medical Center in Fort Pierce, FL, where she remained in ICU for almost eight weeks with a severe spinal cord injury. Cherie then spent another two months at The Shepherd Center in Atlanta undergoing physical, occupational and psychological rehabilitation therapy. Cherie's sister and brother quit their jobs and stayed at family housing at the Center in order to participate in the rehabilitation and receive extensive training to care for her.

After nearly four months of hospitalization and rehab, Cherie has been released to go home. She currently has little movement or sensation below her shoulders and needs care around the clock. She and her cat Mila are living with her sister in Florida and her brother is also staying there to assist in her care while determining the best approach to relocate from Colorado permanently and come up with a more long-term plan for Cherie's care.

Cherie is one of millions of Americans who do not have health insurance to help pay for her mounting medical expenses. She is eligible for Medicaid, which will pay for a portion of her bills, but many things will not be covered, such as a van outfitted for transporting wheelchair users, customized computer equipment and other assistive technologies which will help her to become more independent. There are some additional limited state sources of funding to set-up and maintain a home which will accommodate Cherie's needs, but there will be many additional expenses involved as the lives of Cherie and her siblings evolve and adjust to this new reality.

Cherie is a warm, caring 42-year-old woman originally from Westfield, MA, who has called Vero Beach her home for the past three years. She is the kind of person who is always willing to lend an ear or give a hug to those who have the privilege to know her. Her outlook on life has always been, and continues to be, to smile instead of cry and to face life's challenges with laughter and optimism. She is now facing an unimaginable challenge and is in remarkably good spirits, in large part due to the wide network of support from her many friends and extended family throughout the country.