John W. McDonald, M.D., Ph.D

o        Amanda’s story was featured in Good Housekeeping, Redbook and Woman’s Day Magazines during the month of February, 2008

o    Amanda and her mother, Donna, visited Dr. Kerr at Johns Hopkins Hospital on March 18th and 19th. Dr. Douglas Kerr is an Associate Professor of Neurology, Molecular Microbiology and Immunology. He is Director of the Johns Hopkins Transverse Myelitis Center.  After an intense interview and review of Amanda’s record, Dr. Kerr gave us some surprisingly wonderful news – Amanda may walk again.  Amanda will visit the hospital again during late June and early July.

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www.hopkinsneuro.org/restore

o    Baltimore is ablaze with tourist activity.  The Inner Harbor, Little Italy, Fells Point, Federal Hills are crowded with tourists.

      Upon a hill in Baltimore sits Johns Hopkins Hospital. It is beautiful and welcoming.  Across the street is Kennedy Krieger Spinal Cord Injury Facility.  Hope lays here for Amanda. This is where Amanda gets most of her therapy.  Amanda’s therapy focuses on mechanical manipulation of her legs.  The HOPE is that the brain will recognize the legs and start sending messages for the legs to move.

      Every day is a struggle for Amanda.  She waits for some movement or any indication that her legs will move.  As she waits, she watches the other children who find themselves here.  Amanda’s family and friends watch and hope for a miracle for Amanda and all the other children.

      Today, Amanda met with Dr. John W. McDonald, III MD, PhD. and Phyllis Gary, Executive Director of the Center.  Amanda handed them a check from the Amanda’s Dream to Walk Benefit Fund.  Through the contributions that we collect and pass to research and rehabilitation centers, our donors pass the Dream that one day there will be a cure for paralysis.

      We thank all our donors for their part in the DREAM.

      So, as the tourist walk the streets of Baltimore and enjoy sights, the Dream lives on that someday the paralyzed will walk along these streets with them.