Patient Spotlight: Meet Jenni
Pediatric Home Service has always lived by the mission of ‘taking care of the child‘, we have made it our goal to always provide the best care for our patients and their families, every single day. In our new Patient Spotlight segment you’ll read stories and see pictures of some very special kiddos and their families. PHS kids truly do thrive and we’re excited to be able to share their stories.
Jenni shortly after the accident in 2002
Coming a Long Way
When Jenni was in a car accident in 2002 that left her paralyzed from the neck down and dependent on a vent, she wasn’t sure she would ever be able to leave the house and her bedroom. But now, at 25 and as a former Ms. Wheelchair Minnesota 2011, it’s clear that her early predictions weren’t true.
Jenni spends her days the way many young adults do – going to college, blogging, painting. She just happens to do them in a way that most are not used to. Thanks to speech recognition software, she is able to write papers, control her electronics, and blog about her everyday life and ambitions while exuding an amazing positive energy at The Site That Breathes. An avid artist before the accident, she also learned to paint using her mouth during her time at Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare and continues to create watercolors today.
Motivating Others
“The fact that my breath was taken away doesn’t mean that this moment in my lifetime wasn’t meant to happen,” Jenni says. She is currently attending college and working toward a degree in communications and journalism, while also spending time advocating for people with disabilities and doing motivational speaking. PHS is proud to supply all of the equipment and provide respiratory therapy that keeps Jenni out and about, living her life and inspiring others.
Jenni in 2011
Just the Beginning
Since her injury, Jenni has had the opportunity to do things she never thought possible, including riding in the sidecar of a motorcycle and all the adventures that serving as Ms. Wheelchair Minnesota 2011 brought. At PHS, we know the amazing things she’s done are just the beginning and we continue to be inspired by her zeal for life. We can’t wait to see where Jenni goes next.
Originally published: February 22, 2013