Monica finishing a 5k with her friends Monica suffered damage to the upper motor neuron portion of her right-side phrenic nerve and was diagnosed with unilateral diaphragm paralysis. In May 2015, she was implanted with the Avery Diaphragm Pacemaker by Dr. Don Headley at St Joseph’s Hospital in Phoenix, Arizona. Monica states, “the [...]
Arlyne using her Avery pacer Arlyne became a quadriplegic due to a motor vehicle accident in 1989, resulting in her having a spinal cord injury at the C1-C2 level. Arlyne found out about diaphragm pacers from Dr. Quioto. She was then implanted with the Avery Diaphragm Pacemaker in 1993 by Dr. Michael Turner. [...]
Lauren and Shannon with their children Shannon and Lauren are 33-year-old identical twins living with CCHS. From birth to age 8, ventilation was provided via tracheostomy and then BiPap was used from age 8 to 16. In 2003, Shannon and Lauren received the Avery diaphragm pacers at London Health Science Centre in [...]
William graduating from Annapolis Naval Academy Since the age of 14, William dreamed of becoming a Combat Naval Fighter Pilot. He was inspired by his parents, his father a Naval Officer and his mother a Naval Nurse. After graduating from Annapolis Naval Academy, William went into the Naval Aviation program followed by fleet [...]
Niki, representing her foundation In 2016, Niki, a 21 year old Hungarian woman, became a quadriplegic patient after a serious motorbike accident. CT and MRI imaging confirmed the fracture of the C-2 vertebra with the compression of the spinal cord. After stabilization of the cervical vertebra, a tracheotomy was performed. 10 months later, [...]
Caroline as a child Caroline was just ten months old in February of 2003 when she became a C1-C2 quadriplegic as a result of an automobile accident. After this event, Caroline endured repeated hospitalizations for recurrent pneumonia, like many other quadriplegics. Caroline was implanted with her Avery Diaphragm Pacemaker in August 2007 [...]
Leo and his father on an adventure Leo was diagnosed with Congenital Central Hypoventilation Syndrome (CCHS). In 2015, at age 5, he was implanted with the Avery Diaphragm Pacing system. Prior to implantation, Leo’s activities were limited. With the Avery System, he can comfortably and securely travel with his family. He just recently [...]
Polina was born with CCHS in 2006. She spent the first four years of her life in a hospital on mechanical ventilation before she was implanted with the Avery Diaphragm Pacemaker in 2010 in Uppsala, Sweden. She has been able to attend school and live at home with her family, thanks to the mobility and [...]
Cindy was injured in a motor vehicle accident in 1992, resulting in C2/C3 quadriplegia. Due to the extent of her injury, she requires 24/7 mechanical ventilation. She was first cervically implanted with a diaphragm pacemaker in 1994 in Columbus, Ohio. Unfortunately, after months of attempting to ween from the vent [...]
Allie was born with the rare condition of Congenital Central Hypoventilation Syndrome (CCHS). Due to CCHS she requires 24/7 mechanical ventilation. At 10 years old, she had a tracheostomy and was hooked up to a mechanical ventilator. In September 2009, at age 14, she was implanted with the Avery Diaphragm Pacemaker at Children’s Hospital of [...]
