From transplanting cells & regenerating damaged nerve fibers to designing adaptive canoe seats, the PVA supports innovative research & fellowships that improve the lives of veterans & those affected by spinal cord injury & disease.
Kaney O'Neill was paralyzed during a hurricane while serving in the U.S. Navy. She was only 21 years old. She was first introduced to Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) during her rehabilitation at a VA Spinal Cord Injury Center, and the work of our Research Foundation (SCRF) gave her reason for hope. Kaney loves children and wants to be a teacher. "During one of my talks to a group of kids, one child asked me what I wanted to be. I said 'a teacher.' And he said, 'You can't be a teacher--you're in a wheelchair.'" So she wrote a children's book. "It's about reaching for the stars." Our donors, PVA, and our Research Foundation will be there for Kaney as she reaches for those stars! We were there to help her when she was injured, during her rehabilitation, and during her efforts to determine her VA benefits. SCRF will be there when she takes her first step leaving her wheelchair for good. PVA is so committed to research that we absorb all costs of operating SCRF allowing 100 percent of YOUR contribution to go straight to help us reach for those stars.
From coordination workshops for health professionals to producing educational materials and sponsoring fellowships in spinal cord medicine, the PVA Education & Training Foundation helps develop tools that share SCI/C knowledge and improve the lives for those with SCI/D.