Since July of 2021, when Sharon was assaulted in Kenya, many generous donations from friends and family have enabled Sharon not only to survive, but to make incredible strides in health and recovery. Here is a brief history of the donations received and the medical miracles they enabled:

2021 Fundraiser $130,024

Raised $130,024 entirely from individual donors, covering:

In Kenya

• Weeks-long, life-saving care in a hospital ICU in Nairobi, including respirator and feeding tube

• Extensive treatment to address numerous injuries from the assault including a 12-hour surgery to repair Sharon’s broken jaw

• Early rehabilitation work to stimulate the paralyzed right side

• Air transport on a gurney back to the United States

• Upon Sharon’s return, hospitalization for rehabilitation and palliative care at Valley Medical Center in San Jose

• Upon transfer to home care, outpatient rehab and ongoing medical treatment at Valley Medical Center and Kaiser Permanente

• Outfitting of Veronica’s apartment for special needs

• Family living expenses, including special diet and continence care

Raised $115,024 ($37,500 from county and federal programs; $74,000 from private gifts) covering:

• Medical treatments and rehabilitation at Valley Medical Center and Kaiser Permanente

• Craniosacral therapy to promote reintegration of neuromuscular system

• Special assistive/rehab equipment not covered by insurance, such as a side walker and a neuropsychologist-recommended app to re-develop cognitive skills, processing speed, and memory

• First months of orthodonture treatment to prepare for dental implants

• Legal and transportation costs to bring Sharon’s aunt from Kenya to the United States to help with Sharon’s care and rehab

• Family living expenses

2023 Fundraiser $81,000 

As of November, raised $81,000 ($34,000 from county and federal programs and $47,000 from private gifts) covering:

• Advanced rehabilitation at Valley Med and San Jose State aimed at

  • Improving core strength, body dynamics, and endurance for walking longer distances

  • Improving use of her right arm and hand for daily tasks, including focused work on manual dexterity

• Ongoing work on cognitive skills, processing speed, and memory using an app recommended by Kaiser neuropsychologist

• First months of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) at the Gronowski Clinic to address Sharon’s PTSD from the attack and to support a healthy adjustment to new physical and mental realities

• Continuing orthodonture treatment to prepare for dental implants

2024 Fundraiser $54,700

Aim to raise $54,700 ($10,700 from county and federal programs and $44,000 from private gifts) to cover:

• Continued advanced rehabilitation at Valley Med and San Jose State, with particular goals of improving right-side functional development and learning to maintain balance and walk short distances without a walker

• Membership in rehabilitative warm-water pool near Valley Med to assist with building strength and function to walk unassisted

• Continued CBT at Gronowski Clinic

• Surgery to install dental implants and crowns to complete restoration of jaw

• Possible expenses involved in retooling for work

• Sharon’s half of living expenses

Long-term goal: 

Our goal has always been for Sharon to recover as fully as possible, which includes being ready and able to build a life and future for herself. While the exact course of her rehabilitation is hard to predict, she has made sufficient progress that she – and we – are beginning to plan for her to find and, if necessary, train for employment and independent living. We expect this to happen in the next couple of years. We have already begun exploring county and state services for Californians with disabilities seeking work. For the coming year, Sharon has found a volunteer opportunity to work with children, something she has always loved. Going out into the community a few times a week will be supportive of her work on PTSD-related anxiety generated by being around strangers and will connect her to a meaningful activity.

Starting in 2024, Veronica expects to start working again, beginning at 3 days a week, which would allow to her to continue to accompany Sharon to doctor’s appointments and other activities in which her support is needed. We believe she will continue to receive a portion of Santa Clara County’s In Home Supportive Services payment for caretakers supporting a disabled family member, as she has since 2021. This arrangement will enable her to begin covering her own expenses, including rent, health insurance, and so on.

In this new situation, we will be able to reduce our fundraising target to just the funds needed to support Sharon’s living expenses and ongoing rehabilitation.

In spite of the trauma she has endured, Sharon’s positive spirit continues to shine. All who have been involved with helping her have been drawn to do their utmost to help. As a result, she has made truly amazing progress – and remarkably – continues to improve. With sustained but increasingly modest support, we believe she will have a beautiful, fulfilling, and independent life.