Dear Friends, Family, and Supporters,
Thanks to your generosity, the Ellis family faced John’s paralysis with hope and strength. Your support helped cover medical bills, therapy, and essential equipment during one of the most challenging times of their lives—they are forever grateful.
Today, on behalf of the Ellis family, we are reaching out again with updates, exciting news, and a new goal.
A Journey of Faith, Hope, and Healing
We are excited to share that over the past 18 months, John has astounded doctors and therapists with his continual progress and physical gains. Miracles are afoot, and we are grateful to have a platform to celebrate them with you.
We are blessed to share that John has feeling in his lower extremities! He can accurately pinpoint where a feeling is on his right and left leg or foot, and whether the stimulus is light or dull. John has increased muscle tone and control of his core abdominal muscles, and this area is slowly strengthening and moving further down his torso. Exercise has ensued naturally from entering and leaving his vehicle, strengthening John’s right leg, which increasingly responds to stimuli. According to doctors, John’s lower body has maintained far more muscle tone than expected. This is due, in part, to the many involuntary muscle contractions and reactions in his legs as they react to external stimuli. John can now bear some body weight on his right leg when getting out of a vehicle! This movement of strength for weight-bearing activity, coupled with coordinating instinctual reactions, shows signs that his legs are armed and ready to move into action; they just need the signal!
John’s injury is categorized as an Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury; which means his spinal cord is partially damaged, but some communication between the brain and body below the injury site is still preserved, increasing his likelihood of healing and mobility. John’s therapist has performed nerve response tests, and all nerve responses are present! This is truly miraculous!!! In addition, when nerves are stimulated below the injury, the nerve response travels up his body! So, the goal is to get these nerve signals traveling down from above the injury and connecting them with signals from his brain. John’s therapist feels strongly that training from the bottom up will help these signals reconnect and spring into action, making considerable strides in John’s healing and future mobility.
With John’s continued dedication to recovery and rehabilitation, and the neurological markers that continue to bring hope, the Ellis family has learned about a Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) bike that will significantly increase John’s chances of regaining mobility. This powerful rehab tool stimulates paralyzed muscles to help retrain the nervous system’s neurological pathways, rebuild muscle, and even restore walking ability! It is the bottom-up training John’s therapist is advocating!
Benefits of the MyoCycle:
1. Neuroplasticity & Motor Recovery
• Stimulates the nervous system: Even if voluntary movement is limited, FES sends electrical signals that encourage the brain and spinal cord to reconnect with muscles.
• Supports neuroplasticity: Fundamental in teens, whose developing brains and nervous systems can rewire more than adults.
2. Muscle and Bone Health
• Preserves muscle mass: Prevents further atrophy in legs and glutes—critical for long-term mobility.
• Improves muscle tone: Helps reduce spasticity and involuntary stiffness, common in spinal cord injuries.
• Slows bone density loss: Teens are still building bone mass. FES helps maintain strength and reduce the risk of fractures from disuse.
3. Cardiovascular and Metabolic Benefits
• Improves heart and lung function: FES cycling offers aerobic conditioning without requiring voluntary leg movement.
• Promotes circulation: Reduces swelling, blood pooling in the legs, and risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT).
• Supports healthy weight and glucose levels: Significant in teenagers to prevent long-term complications from inactivity and for strengthening lungs, and especially pertinent for John, who currently has Type 1 Diabetes.
4. Mental Health & Emotional Resilience
• Empowerment: Provides a way to take control of their recovery at home—can be deeply motivating for teens.
• Improves mood: Regular exercise boosts endorphins and reduces feelings of depression and frustration.
• Promotes independence: Home-based therapy builds confidence and encourages a proactive mindset.
5. Convenience & Consistency
• Easier to maintain a rehab routine: No travel or scheduling issues—can be used daily or several times a week.
• Consistency is key: Long-term, regular use drives real improvements in health and potential neurological recovery.
Together we can help!
Many of you have requested to share and be a part of John’s healing journey, continuing to ask over the last 18 months, “What can we do to help?”
Well, we have great news! Recently, the Ellis family located a refurbished MyoCycle (FES Bike) for $12,000 which is $3000 under the regular marked price! As mentioned above, this bike is the road to transformation for John’s overall health, quality of life, and future mobility, but unfortunately, John’s insurance does not cover the FES Bike.
Additionally, the decking, marking the ingress and egress of the Ellis’ home, has become overrun with rot, making for a dangerous exit and entry space, especially for John as he comes in and out of his home. Repairing the deck will bring the Ellis family much peace of mind and safety.
For those of you interested and able, your support will cover:
• MyoCycle (FES Bike)
• Bike Delivery
• Clinical Support
• Lifetime/online Physical Therapist
• 3-year supply of bike electrodes
• Material and labor to repair the Ellis’ decking
John has met this challenge over the last 18 months with courage and grace, enduring so much while keeping his gentle spirit, sense of humor, and unshakable belief that God has a plan.
Together, we will make this dream of a healthier and mobile future a reality for John and his family!
Whether you can donate or share this updated campaign, we are deeply grateful for your continued love and support.
Every dollar will support giving John the tools he needs to reclaim mobility and a future where he will walk again.
How You Can Help
• Donate whatever you can — every bit makes a difference
• Share this campaign with your friends, family, church, or social media.
• Pray with us for strength, healing, and provision.
“With God all things are possible.” – Matthew 19:26
Thank you for all you have already given this beloved family. You make it possible for them to keep dreaming of new horizons. Your walking beside them through it all means more than you know.
On behalf of John Ellis and Family,
With hope and appreciation,
Jenna Northey
