Sunday, June 19, 2022

LESSONS LEARNED FROM A PARENT AND CAREGIVER

OF AN INDIVIDUAL LIVING WITH SPINAL CORD INJURY

Ivette Folgueiras’ career as a medical assistant – first in geriatrics, then pediatrics – and involvement in Florida’s Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Program exposed her to the caregiving and advocacy roles of family members of people with disabilities.

Her son David’s nearly-fatal accident at age 10 – causing both C-3 spinal cord and brain stem injury – put her into the driver’s seat of dogged advocate and support system.

A bright, football-playing 5th grade Miami boy, David was on a fishing trip with his uncle deep in the Everglades in rural Collier County. 

The boy darted into the road. 

The impact with the vehicle nearly killed him. 

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