Anita, Bobby and Baby Olivia

Anita never saw it coming.

Twelve years ago, she was driving with her twin sister when their car skidded out of control on the highway. After rolling and flipping many times, the car finally came to an ominous stop. Amazingly, Anita’s sister walked away unharmed. Anita wasn’t so lucky.

At 24, she was left paralyzed from the chest down. Her life had changed forever.

It would have been so easy - even understandable - for Anita to give up. But this brave, young woman still had much to do, much to accomplish…

… like being nominated by the Globe and Mail as one of Canada’s top 133 young leaders. Or being ranked by Chatelaine as one of the top 15 up-and-coming Canadian women for the New Millennium…

Anita didn’t lose her life on that highway ... she gained a new one.

You see, Anita discovered Canadian Paraplegic Association Ontario during her year-long rehabilitation. Because you care, help was there for her through our Peer Support Program.

“At first, you are so shocked and trying to take everything in,” Anita recalls. “Being able to learn from others who were injured was a huge benefit to me. They’ve been through it and taught me so my life could begin again.”

Anita was thankful for the wisdom, advice and hope she found through the program and decided to become a peer support volunteer herself. Here was a way she could give back to others with a spinal cord injury - to help people just like she had been helped.

In this way, Anita is very much like you. Your support tells me you want to help newly injured individuals and their families navigate through one of the most difficult times in their lives. And you do, every day. There is not a person here who isn’t grateful for your generosity.

Today, I hope we can count on you for a special donation to CPA Ontario. With your continued support we can ensure each and every Ontarian who sustained a spinal cord injury has someone to guide them on the path of recovery.

The Peer Support Program isn’t the only way Anita gives back. She and her husband Bobby are also part of our Family Support Program - visiting with the families of those who have been injured. “Seeing me and all I am doing helps families see there is hope – their loved one can lead a happy and successful life,” says Anita.

Anita also took the time to write health articles for CPA Ontario’s magazine ‘Outspoken!’, helping the 36,000 Canadians living with spinal cord injuries improve their quality of life.

Through it all, Anita never gave up on her dream of achieving a Master’s degree in Rehabilitation Science. In fact, she completed her thesis on Parenting with a Spinal Cord Injury just one week before she was due to became a parent herself!

“Of everything I have done in life, one of the greatest accomplishments, the greatest gift and reward, was becoming a mother,” says Anita.

This will be the first Christmas with daughter Olivia, and Anita and Bobby are getting excited. They’re looking forward to spending the holidays with Anita’s parents where they know Olivia, the first grandchild, will be spoiled with love and affection.

“It’s funny,” confides Anita, “I am very focused today. Before the injury, I felt lost and was concerned that I was getting off track with my goals and dreams. The injury brought it back full circle for me, and today I’m doing exactly what I want to be doing and am exactly where I want to be.”

It’s no wonder Anita is seen as a positive role model for those with spinal cord injuries.

You can continue to play a positive role in many lives too! Individuals like Anita face challenges every day, but they also celebrate accomplishments. By joining The Opening Doors Plan as a monthly contributor, you can provide support and inspiration all year long.

However you choose to give, please make CPA Ontario a part of your holiday giving today. Together, we can show thousands of Canadians life doesn’t end with a spinal cord injury - ­a new life begins.

Sincerely,

Bill Adair

Executive Director

P.S. Your support has allowed us to reach over 1,300 clients with 98,333 hours of vitally important services last year alone. Your continued support will allow us to help even more individuals - it will change lives.