Welcome to Help Mandy Walk
HOWDY! My name is Mandy LaCombe, class of '06; and I am a Finance major at Texas A&M University. One of my biggest dreams is to walk across the stage to receive my diploma when I (finally!) graduate!! Walking across the stage is a dream because I broke my neck in a car accident in 1996. The doctors gave me a 99% chance I would never even shrug my shoulders or breathe on my own. I, however, have always been determined to walk again!
I am no stranger to adversity. I was born with scoliosis. I had back surgery at 2½ and again when I was 20. When I was 2 ½, they had to fuse 9 of the 12 thoracic vertebrae. Due to the severity of my curve and the surgery, doctors told my parents if I was not restricted to a wheelchair, I would be in a back brace all of my life. Fortunately, I only had to wear a cast for a year and a half and then a brace until I was 5½. I soon went on to play Little League sports, be a cheerleader for my Jr. High & High School as well as participate in just about any other activity I wanted!! When I was 20, they fused 3 of the 5 lumbar vertebrae and put a rod in my back. My second back surgery was a big reminder that good health was not a "right" but a gift! I feel the experiences I had with my two back surgeries gave me a lot to draw on after I broke my neck.
Thankfully, I knew firsthand that medical prognoses are just that. They do not account for a person's will, the strength of the human spirit or miracles. I believe these are bigger determinants. I have progressed enough to live very independently, drive my own van, go back to school, and start my own business! But my biggest dream of walking again has not yet been realized. Although not yet attained, more than ever, I still believe walking again is within my reach!! And now, I need you to believe in me too!!
