PATIENT ASSISTANCE FUND

In 2007, the Darrell Gwynn Foundation teamed up with Craig hospital, one of the premier rehabilitation hospitals for patients with spinal cord injuries, to form the Darrell Gwynn Foundation’s Patient Assitance Fund

The Patient Assitance Fund was set up to alleviate some of the unforeseeable costs newly injured spinal cord victims inquire upon leaving the hospital. Many of the costs incurred are not luxury items but those things that spinal cord victims require to insure their quality of life.

The fund assists patients at Craig Hospital by providing help with the following:

1. Hand controls and other minor vehicle modifications and repairs to those items that assist patients in obtaining the ability to drive a vehicle or to continue to drive and remain as independent as possible.
2. Acquiring the necessary bath equipment such as shower/commode wheelchairs, etc. Currently many insurance companies view bath equipment as "convenience items"
3. Minor home modifications that enable a patient to be more independent in the home environment.
4. Other items, with the approval of Department of Directors that may help improve a patient's quality of life.

The Patient Assistance Fund also supports Speediatrics, two very unique pediatric units in the state of Florida – The Betty Jane France Pediatric Center, at Halifax Hospital in Daytona, FL and Homestead Hospital in Homestead, FL. The Darrell Gwynn Foundation annually makes donations to each unit with proceeds from its Hot Rods & Reels Charity Fishing Tournaments and Darrell Gwynn visits the children being cared for in the pediatric units.

One of the main goals of the Darrell Gwynn Foundation is to ultimately find a cure for paralysis, but until that day comes, quality of life for people living with spinal cord injuries is our top priority. With the patient assistance fund we hope more and more people are given the resources they need to lead their best life.

Testimonial

"The Darrell Gwynn Foundation helped me purchase an adapted telephone after completing rehabilitation at Craig Hospital in Colorado. This “Ameriphone” gives me the freedom to be home alone and independently communicate with friends, colleagues and family. I am very grateful for the Foundation's support as I rebuild my life in my community."

Penny Crom
Grand Junction, CO

In 2004 the Darrell Gwynn Foundation aligned with The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis to fund research targeted towards Neuroprotection by forming the Darrell Gwynn Foundation’s Fast Track Laboratory for Neuroprotection Studies. This program also operates under the Darrell Gwynn Foundation’s Patient Assistance Fund. What is neuroprotection? In the hours and days after a spinal cord injury (SCI), nerve cells that survive the initial injury are at great risk from damage due to inflammation that occurs at the site of the injury. Researchers are looking at ways to minimize this inflammatory process. Treatment modalities such as hypothermia (cooling) have been shown to minimize inflammation. In addition, neuroprotective agents such as IL-10 and others can inhibit the inflammatory cascade, resulting in less tissue damage.

Fast Track Laboratory Page

Speediatrics

Craig Hospital