Michael’s Story: How a Solace Advocate Secured $17,000 in Grants for a Father Living with Paralysis

Michael* was stuck.

It had been four years since a devastating accident left him with movement in only one thumb. A husband and father of two young children, he’d spent those years trying—and failing—to get the therapy and equipment he needed. He felt hopeless.

Then he found Solace.

“If I’d had a Solace advocate four years ago, I can't even imagine where I'd be today,” he told his advocate, Janell, after she helped secure nearly $17,000 in grants—enough to begin putting his life back together.

The Healthcare System Failed Michael. He’s Not Alone.

Michael’s story isn’t unique. Every day, patients are discharged with no plan—and no idea how to access the care or equipment they need.

He was expected to coordinate complex care, apply for grants, and hunt for specialized equipment, all while paralyzed from the neck down. And with a family counting on him, he wasn’t just trying to heal—he was trying to stay present as a father and husband.

“Imagine being in a wheelchair, not able to move anything but a thumb,” says Janell. “And then it’s impossible to figure out what kind of help is out there. You might think the hospital tells them, but no one does. When someone like me steps in, that’s when things can actually start moving.”

He Didn’t Know the System—But His Advocate Did

When Janell took on Michael’s case, she brought 35 years of nursing experience across ICU, oncology, mental health, and rehab. She knew how to find opportunity where others saw dead ends. “Every grant I could find, every equipment program, every lead—I followed it,” she says.

Janell researched spinal cord injury grants, therapy programs, and equipment funds. She cold-called rehab centers for used gear. She pulled resource lists from old hospitals. When grants were denied, she reapplied. When vendors stalled, she negotiated. Each breakthrough helped Michael heal, and drew him closer to his family and community.

• Physical therapy: Janell secured several thousand dollars in grants to fund a full year of PT—care Michael hadn’t been able to access on his own.
• At-home access: She tracked down a used LiteGait system, negotiated the purchase, and had it installed in his home so he could start daily therapy without travel.
• The big lift: She fought for the EksoNR bionic suit. It started at $43,000. She got it down to $23,000—and found grants to cover more than half.

So far, she’s secured nearly $17,000 in grants—but her work isn’t done. Michael still needs a wheelchair. A scoliosis brace. More support. “This kind of therapy has to be done daily,” Janell says. “Without that rhythm, the body just declines. So I keep pushing until we find a way.”

What Changed—and Why It Mattered

Michael had faced barrier after barrier. But with someone finally in his corner, each one started to fall. The system hadn’t changed—he just had someone who knew how to make it work.

• Before, he physically couldn’t complete applications. Even simple paperwork was impossible. Janell tracked down forms, filled them out, and submitted them herself.
• Before, he didn’t know what to apply for or where to look. Most programs aren’t publicized. Janell found the programs, followed the leads, and got him funded.
• Before, he was barely surviving—let alone planning for the future. Small decisions felt impossible. Janell secured equipment, arranged therapy, and helped him build a new routine.
• Before, he simply had no one. No coordinator. No one to make the calls. No advocate. Janell became that person, scheduling, negotiating, appealing, and always pushing forward.

Janell reshaped what Michael’s life could look like. “I don’t think the job ever really ends,” she says. “But I’ll keep going until I’ve turned over every stone. That’s what he deserves.”

A Bond That Made the Difference

By now, Janell was more than a resource. She was a steady voice on the line. A translator in the doctor’s office. A partner who didn’t let go when things got hard.

“I’ve joined him for appointments,” she says. “I’ve helped explain what the doctor’s saying, helped him make sense of it all. And after a while, we do kind of become like family.”

That connection—day after day, call after call—finally gave Michael room to hope again.

“I didn’t even have it in me to try four years ago,” he told her. “And now, because I have you, I have that drive.”

The Work Continues

Michael still needs a new wheelchair and scoliosis-support gear. And Janell’s not done—she’s still making calls, still searching for grants, still coordinating his care.

“We’re working toward a better future,” Janell says. “I want him to enjoy time with his family—and live without pain.”

Now, that future is within reach. And it’s all because Michael has an advocate who knows the system and won’t stop fighting for him.

This is what Solace advocates do every day: they take on the toughest parts of healthcare so patients don't have to do it alone. They research, apply, call, coordinate, and keep fighting until patients get what they need. Everyone deserves an advocate in their corner.

If you or a loved one is struggling to get the care, equipment, or resources you need, you don't have to figure it out alone. Learn more about working with a Solace advocate.

Notes

*Name has been changed for privacy.