Leo Perez
My name is Leopoldo “Leo“ Perez Jr., and on October 19, 2020, I sustained a C4-T1 lesion on my spinal cord due to a virus from Transverse Myelitis. I was working when I suddenly had a sharp pain in my right shoulder. The pain was so sharp I could no longer make a fist. The next day I went to the doctor and the doctor said I might have sprained my shoulder and prescribed Ibuprofen and a muscle relaxer. Because the pain lingered, on Monday morning I took a muscle relaxer. At about 11 am, I started to feel “off” and decided to go home early from work. How I managed to get home was a miracle, for I no longer had any sensation from my neck down. How I was able to drive home when I could no longer determine the difference between the brake and gas was beyond me. I got home and I just collapse and stayed on the floor for more than 8 hours. Thinking it was the muscle relaxer I just stayed on the floor hoping the effects of the relaxer would wear off. Unfortunately, that was not the case. After 8 hours the ambulance was called I was taken to the emergency room and after numerous tests, I was diagnosed with Transverse Myelitis.
The Be Perfect Foundation has provided me with financial assistance when I needed it the most. After being told by my insurance that I had maxed out on my yearly physical therapy visits all within the first month of being discharged from the hospital I thought I had no more options. Be Perfect also gave me the opportunity to continue with treatment without worrying about the financial stressor that I knew it would bring on my family. This assistance allows me to focus solely on my recovery. It is my hope that the more I participate in The Perfect Step I will regain independence.
Be Perfect gave me the hope that I needed because I did not have to put my recovery on hold. Be Perfect has given me the opportunity to be part of a program, The Perfect Step, that instills hope and every milestone is celebrated no matter how small it might be.
I am proud to say that I have gained upper body strength, along with more trunk stability allowing me to help a little bit more with transfers. Thanks to The Perfect Step I am learning how to control my spasms and learning how to use my spasms to my advantage.
Ultimately my biggest goal is to be able to walk again. My immediate goals are to regain as much mobility as I can, to be able to use my hands as I use to in order to perform the daily functions that I used to be able to do.
I would like to thank you from my bottom of my heart for your generosity. Your financial gift is allowing me to be a part of one of the best programs out there. It is my hope that I can continue my recovery at The Perfect Step for as long I need.