Supporters of paralyzed teen ask public to donate just $1
SEATTLE -- Friends and family members are calling for special Thanksgiving day support for the teenage gymnast fighting for her life at Harborview Medical Center.
Jacoby Miles was paralyzed from the chest down after landing on her neck during practice.
Her supporters have launched a campaign, named "#B1namillion!", calling for others to join her fight by donating just $1.
"If everyone will donate just $1 to the TEAM JACOBY FUND we will raise enough money to get her the best doctors and the best treatment money can buy," said a post on a blog dedicated to tracking the teen's progress. "Let's give this ANGEL a chance to walk again." Donations are being taken at goteamjacoby.com.
Jacoby was warming up on Friday at Roach Gymnastics in Sumner and practicing a dismount she's landed countless times.
In a post on Facebook, Jacoby's coach said "she got lost during the second rotation of her double back and opened up early and then landed on her neck."
Her spinal cord wasn't severed, but Jacoby "lost all feeling from her chest down instantly," said her father, Jason Miles.
"It's very frightening to not be able to move," he said.
The most painful part may be coming to terms with her new reality.
"We've had to talk with her about what's going on and it's harder to see her try to deal with it," Jason said. And for her parents, it's tough not knowing what kind of life their daughter will be able to lead.
But Jacoby is a competitor and a fighter at heart.
"I personally think that's what is going to help her beat this, is that same drive," Jason said.
Jacoby is able to move her shoulders and has some feeling in her arms. While doctors believe there's a chance she could regain movement in her wrists, they say it's unlikely Jacoby will walk again.
But she and her family are hoping for a full recovery.
"We have to prepare mentally for the worst and pray for the best," Jason said. "I know God has big plans for her."
Jacoby Miles was paralyzed from the chest down after landing on her neck during practice.
Her supporters have launched a campaign, named "#B1namillion!", calling for others to join her fight by donating just $1.
"If everyone will donate just $1 to the TEAM JACOBY FUND we will raise enough money to get her the best doctors and the best treatment money can buy," said a post on a blog dedicated to tracking the teen's progress. "Let's give this ANGEL a chance to walk again." Donations are being taken at goteamjacoby.com.
Jacoby was warming up on Friday at Roach Gymnastics in Sumner and practicing a dismount she's landed countless times.
In a post on Facebook, Jacoby's coach said "she got lost during the second rotation of her double back and opened up early and then landed on her neck."
Her spinal cord wasn't severed, but Jacoby "lost all feeling from her chest down instantly," said her father, Jason Miles.
"It's very frightening to not be able to move," he said.
The most painful part may be coming to terms with her new reality.
"We've had to talk with her about what's going on and it's harder to see her try to deal with it," Jason said. And for her parents, it's tough not knowing what kind of life their daughter will be able to lead.
But Jacoby is a competitor and a fighter at heart.
"I personally think that's what is going to help her beat this, is that same drive," Jason said.
Jacoby is able to move her shoulders and has some feeling in her arms. While doctors believe there's a chance she could regain movement in her wrists, they say it's unlikely Jacoby will walk again.
But she and her family are hoping for a full recovery.
"We have to prepare mentally for the worst and pray for the best," Jason said. "I know God has big plans for her."
KOMO,Please do Jacoby a favor,and keep this story posted on your page.For weeks to come.Please keep us updated on how she's doing and how the donation is progressing.It's all I want for Christmas is to read where Jacoby took her first steps............
Count me in to!!!!! $10.00..I feel a connection to the family like alot of you probably do.Don't know them but as a community this is what we should do.Could not even begin to imagine what I would do if I were in their shoes.Im praying every night that Jacoby walks again.I have a feeling she just might do it to!!! TEAM JACOBY ROCKS!!!!
Felt REALLY good donating,have to admit....:)
Â
+$1. Go team jacoby
Now we have a boxer who is brain dead, Â so what's the difference in extreme sports? Â Some carry some extreme risks and the parents look at their kids as making a name for themselves. Â You can donate but I would donate time to put an end to some of this nonsense.Â
 @HullenbeckCowl If you feel strongly for the boxer, start a fundraiser. Don't question Gymnastics, it's not extreme, it's an olympic discipline almost as old as the olympic games themselves. The word gymnasium stems from it. My girl does gymnastics, and she loves it. I never made her do it. But I will support her as good as I can. I think the same can be said for the family at hand. Â
 @HullenbeckCowl You were one of those really clumsy kids who never got picked for a team in gym class, huh? You are very spiteful in all of your posts.
@HullenbeckCowl and dealing drugs!!! No sympathy here.
 @HullenbeckCowl Uh, that Boxer got shot in the head...had nothing to do with his Athletics.
 @_Monte_  @HullenbeckCowl Don't expect real facts from Hullenbeck. He/she is however, exceptional at judging others.Â
Donated.
God has big plans for her? Â I don't even know where to begin so I won't. Â I broke my back in a skiing accident and was very lucky. Â I wish her and her family the best. Â
People just don't seem to get it how extreme they can make gymnastics!! Â Let's get these adults from egging kids on to dangerous sports and activities. Â I guess a teenage stunt women or boy driving a in the Indy 500 is brave also!!
 @HullenbeckCowl Umm.. the kids LIKE it. It is an activity that doesn't get them pregnant or in jail. Shut up.
 @HullenbeckCowl Yes, brave because she is smiling even knowing she may never walk again. I know you can't judge folks by their comments alone, but you are either a troll (someone trying to be negative to get attention) or one uncaring, unhappy person.Â
I am so shocked at how people can even talk bad about this family!!!  Anyone that has a  child that had something like this to happen to their baby, would be trying to do anything that they could for them...  My daughter was 13 and she had a stroke that kept her in the hospital for 60 days...  and she had three surgeries on her brain...  She has recovered fully now and after everything was said and done the bill was over 800,0000..  One surgery was 300.00000...  But, she was at Childrens and they paid everything that the insurance did not..  GOD BLESS THEM!!!  Jacoby and her family has got a very long road ahead of them and it is going to be an enormous amount of money that nobody can even foresee...  So,  You can count me in for 500.00...  I am praying every day for you Jacoby!!! Â
Â
@Joy2see38 Bless you!!!!
5 here from Colorado. Some of these trolls are a riot!
Hope she makes a full recovery. I had a spare $20 to give.Â
I found a spare dollar... Hoping you can make a full recovery.
There should also be a fund to ban dangerous sports!!
 @HullenbeckCowl I would donate to a fund to ban stupid people off of KOMO. You easily make the top ten.
 @HullenbeckCowl 1 word: twisted, narrow-minded thinking.
OK, that was 4. And thanks for your compassion for this teenage girl who was/is actually doing something with her life instead of hanging out at the mall, bored to death.
I'll contribute $10 out of my Christmas shopping budget, that should cover the donation YOU most likely will NOT make.
 @DrugFighter Oh yes,  hanging out doing gymnastics means she was actually doing something with her  life?   I do agree but there are less dangerous things they could be doing, Part of it is the adults egging these teenagers on to do dangerous stunts.Â
Why not ballet, Â dance, Â playing with other kids, Â learning how to sew, Â etc., Â doing chores at home? Â If you don't do something extreme, Â then you are bored? Â I am not saying you should not contribute any money, Â but this type of thing has to be looked at more seriously. Â
 @HullenbeckCowl Yes, ding anything others than aimlessly hanging out is indeed "doing something with your life". She chose to do gymnastics. And yes, probably with the encouragement of her family - I do not know.
I hardly call gymnastics extreme, probably just as extreme as the ballet you mention. Driving a car as a teenager is a while lot more risky tan doing gymnastics.
 @HullenbeckCowl Every sport has risks. Driving a car has risks, walking down the street has risks. LIFE has risks. You can't ban everything that could cause you harm, or you wouldn't even be safe in your own house.Â
I used to work in the ICU @ Harborview. Jacoby could not be in any better hospital in the US. They are fantastic! ! !
Â
If there are any therapies or treatments that can bring Jacoby back to her best possible functional level, the Harborview teams of absolute professionals will find a way.
Â
And, yes, even with insurance, it is and will continue to be costly. So, I, too join the donation nation to help this family. Black Friday, long lines, Christmas HYPE, and retail-ism can't compare to the importance of helping Jacoby.
@Yadayada I agree they are awesome at Harborview .. they saved my husband from flesh eating bacteria... Praying for that little girl .. I am in for $50.00.Â
This is such a bummer. Yes, I will donate.
Home and vehichle modifications can be costly and are often not covered by insurance. The time one or both parents spend away from work can also be costly; even using the family leave act. My husband spend a month in Harborview and the gas and parking actually cost more than the inpatient "co-pay".  I am sure all donations will be very appreciated by this family during this very difficult time. Wishing this family strength through the days ahead. Many of us would appreicate the consideration of not seeing negative comments.
You have my dollar! I nearly cried when I read about this poor kid. Heartbreaking!
Posting this to my Facebook page
If you don't want to donate then don't. You do not need to bash a good family who's daughter is in the hospital not knowing the fate of the rest of her life. They are just doing what ANY of us as parents would do for our children! Move on and hope that one day you will not need something for you or someone you know and love. There are good and decent people out there willing to help and she will get the help she deserves. Yes it is a risky and dangerous sport and going in you know the risks but no one should have to go through this and read such awful comments. My daughter goes to school with Jacoby and is friends with her and like my daughter said comments such as these negative ones just make those of us who have hearts donate more. We will do all we can for Jacoby and her family and continue to get others as well to help in any way they can. We are praying for you Jacoby and your family!!!!
OMFG!!! I cannot believe some of the comments on here about the family asking for help etc... Think about your kids! If this were yours- you'd NEVER believe that they damaged beyond repair. You continue with hope. I DONATED and will continue to donate as much as I can. My GF coaches a High School team there and the entire staff and friends and family of everyone there has felt this. I don't use words like "ashamed". But Geez you really should be ashamed of yourselves for talking about people coming together to help someone. MAYBE you can't help but to down talk others and this girls family is "UNAMERICAN". I really can't believe the things I've read here about this. Thank you to the ones hearts out there. Keep forwarding the links and lets help this girl!
 @RUCKUS I believe some of the comments are trolls but some are just ignorant too. Don't let them get to you. They are creeps with no life probably sitting at their mother's house with nothing to do but dink on the computer. They get their thrill when people get mad at them.
Â
Most stats on paralysis shows young adult males at risk due to vehicular accidents, gun shot wounds, and a tiny amount in sports. This young lady is so young in an activity that is not actually high risk. Every time we get in a car to drive we are at a higher risk than her getting on the beam. The ignorant trolls will be out all night tonight. Watch for how quiet they get in the mornings when they are sleeping in because they haven't a job. They'd be back about noon when their mom yells at them to get up.Â
alls I can say is NEWSIE did what he/she intended... Definitely upset me. I can't believe the ignorance of some people. Theres so much more that could be said to that one!!!Â
 @MargeGunderson  @arborvitae  @RUCKUS So very true Marge.Â
 @arborvitae  @RUCKUS You can always recognize people like that out in the real world by the little puddle of urine that's always around their feet when they have to deal with real people and potential consequences for their cowardly words.Â
 @RUCKUS I agree but they hide behind the internet and use it as a weapon. Makes you want to really get in their face.Â
I have paid it forward by donating $50...and hope others will do the same...take your dollar and add a few more and keep the momentum rolling...
I posted Jacoby's story on my FB page and shared it with my discussion group. I know that we can't reach out to every person in need and it is fortuitious that her story is getting the exposure, while there are many others who do not receive the same attention. Jacoby's plight is here and now. If you are adverse to contributing to this cause, perhaps there is another that would suit you better (wounded warriors, senior citizen meals on wheels, goodwill, Stl Jude's) whatever it may be, it's your choice.Â
I hate to think of a 13 year old whose life was so drastically changed doing something that kids have done for decades...for those saying we need to outlaw dangerous sports, do we outlaw baseball too, to prevent the accidents in which a child is hit by a line drive? Or outlaw basketball, the number one rated most dangerous sport, based on injury statistics, because of the numbers of ACL injuries?
 @takncarabizniz The power of the internet at work!
 @takncarabizniz Will do.Â
I feel for this family, I really do, but something about this just rubs me the wrong way. I guess it's the fact that they are asking the public to donate - like we are expected to (and yes, it says friends and family but we don't know that the parents weren't behind this whole thing). And another thing, EVERYONE in hospitals deserves the BEST treatment and the best doctors available, not just this family. Get off your freaking high horse. I have an idea, why don't we all donate $1 to everyone who needs it? Oh wait, that's probably not gonna happen. I'm sorry but you decided to put your daughter in a risky sport and this accident is one of those freak things that you knew could happen - regardless of skill level. The public is not at your beck and call when you need cash.Â
Â
"While we are sitting around the dinner table on this Thanksgiving Day sharing with our families what we are thankful for, let us remember the Miles family in our prayers and in our pocket books."
Â
Really? Remember them in our pocket books? Now I have to feel guilty that I'm enjoying dinner with my family while your daughter is in a hospital bed? Get over yourselves!Â
Â
And for all you trolls that have nothing better to do but reply to everyone's post you don't agree with, GFY! And if you get all fired up over this, then my job is done.
 @newsie Newsie, people are voluntarily donating because they WANT to.  It's that simple. Getting in a vehicle every day is a risk. No one is forcing you to donate or feel to feel guilty if you don't or can't. Being taxed to death is something that really rubs me the wrong way..
 @newsie nobody needs your help. The family is in a hardship and there is a fundraiser in the community - not an unusual thing. Nobody holds it against you if you don't pitch in for whatever reason. if your life is going well, you may be making donations to charity - maybe not. Totally your call. If it makes yo feel bad, if you don't donate to some cause, well yeah, maybe you are human after all ;-)
@newsie
So you visit this web site, register so you can post for the public view your opinions of this article, then shriek and whine a generic response to everyone else's posts, both present and random future ones that may or may not occur.
Â
Then you hit the homestretch with squeaky indignation at those future responses and slide into home congratulating yourself if you succeeded in ... what, exactly? People somehow being excited by this? What is supposed to be so thrilling about it?Â
Â
All I cans say is, I sure hope for your sake this, er, job of yours pays well, because it sure can't be very challenging or entertaining.Â
Â
By the way, nowhere did anyone in the article or the comments ask you to feel bad. You don't need an invitation; you seem do that to yourself as often and as easily as breathing.Â
 @newsie I noticed that you "joined" the Komo forum just today and have made one comment - this one. I suspect you're a troll yourself with your flaming comments.Â
 @arborvitae  @newsie I noticed that too, a "doosh" with a keyboard. People who have nothing better to do than to turn a heartfelt story into bashing because there always has to be one or two negative comments. Yet I dare them to say their nasty comments to someone's face, wouldn't fly.Â
 @newsie Wow. Just... wow.Â
 @newsie LOL! Fired up? Nah--- struck with pity for your bitterness...yep~ however-- If you fall in a hole and are hurt badly--- I'll still throw in a buck or 2 though if someone asks for it.  Because it's nice-- even if you chose to be walking around somewhere with a bunch of risky holes in the ground... Happy Thanksgiving--- Donate to what you want--- and leave the rest..
 @WA State Mom  @newsie I respectfully suggest that you get that buck or two in pennies, and your "throwing in" is them into the hole.Â
Be sure and really wind up and follow through; you can earn bonuses how high they bounce off.Â