Please help

You can contribute online with any major credit card or send a check made payable to:

Laurus Foundation/Juliana Recovery Fund

Mail to:
Laurus Foundation
1222 Hamilton Parkway
Itasca, IL 60143

 

 

... or if the widget above doesn't work or if you would like to contribute less than $25, please use the PayPal button below:

 

 

Laurus Foundation is a recognized 501(c)(3) foundation.
Contributions are tax deductible. Federal Tax ID:

 

Update: As most of the world knows now, Juliana's fiancée, Chris Medina, first appeared on American Idol back in January. His performance and his character captured the hearts of millions of viewers.

When we began working with Juliana last November, we knew she would need a world of help. And that is exactly what has happened. Since the day of Chris's first performance on America Idol, we have received donations, prayers and good wishes from all over the world.

On February 23, Chris was eliminated from the show, but even in a moment of disappointment and heartbreak, Chris showed the character and composure that is evident in everything he and Juliana do. Chris and Juliana will forever be winners to us and millions of others.

 

Please join us in congratulating Chris on his success and wish him well as he continues his career. There is still a lot of work to be done to further Juliana's recovery, and we're asking for your help. Our new goal for the Juliana Recovery Fund is $100,000.

 

Thank you for your support and please tell others how they can help, too.

 

Help Juliana Ramos

Juliana Ramos was injured in a serious car accident on October 2, 2009 while driving home from work. She suffered a severe skull fracture, a traumatic brain injury (TBI), and multiple fractures to her beautiful face. Her chances of surviving through the night were in doubt and it was much too soon to speculate about her prospects for a full recovery.

The Laurus Foundation was first introduced to Juliana and her family this past November by our good friend, Aimee Zmysly. Aimee connected with Juliana's mom, Janet, on Facebook. Janet contacted the Laurus Foundation to discuss the treatments available for traumatic brain injuries provided by our Partners in Progress.

A week after our first conversation, Janet, Juliana, and her fiancé, Chris, met with three of our Partners in Progress. We visited with NextSteps Chicago in the morning for an evaluation and some exercise therapy. The next stop was Dr. Turner for an MSA – meridian stress assessment – and laser therapy, and the day ended later that afternoon at the Midwest Hyperbaric Institute and an evaluation by Dr. Martinucci.

Since that day in November, Juliana, Janet, and Chris along with other members of the family, have diligently planned, scheduled, and attended the daily treatment sessions for Juliana. It has not been easy or inexpensive.

For example, the protocol for hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) at Midwest Hyperbaric calls for 40 treatments in one hour sessions each - five days a week. The sessions cost $200 each, so the total cost for this first round of HBOT is $8,000.00. Insurance companies still do not cover HBOT for traumatic brain injuries. It is considered research or experimental, despite years of proven success for TBI and other neurological disorders.

To help cover the cost of HBOT and other innovative treatments, the Laurus Foundation has set up the Juliana Recovery Fund. You can contribute to this fund using the fundraising widget on the side of this page. You can also follow Juliana's progress and her family's valiant efforts to provide for her recovery on .

Progress will be slow, but we believe that giving people hope – not dismal prognoses or false guarantees – but real hope that the body (and brain) is constantly at work repairing itself – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Our job is to give the body the treatments and ingredients it needs to do its jobs well.

Join us in helping this remarkable young lady and her brave and tenacious family as they do the hard work ahead.