#264 Walking with Anthony: A Journey of Hope and Strength

In this powerful and deeply personal episode, Micki Purcell shares the journey that led to the founding of Walking With Anthony, a nonprofit inspired by her son Anthony’s catastrophic spinal cord injury. From the moment of the accident, Micki was thrust into a world of trauma, complex medical decisions, and overwhelming financial pressures. Instead of accepting paralysis as a life sentence, she chose to fight—creating a foundation dedicated to helping other families navigate the long road to rehabilitation and hope.

Micki opens up about the emotional rollercoaster of the early days, the critical importance of rehab, and the heartbreaking insurance limitations that so many SCI families face. She also explores what it takes to run a nonprofit, maintain resilience, and mobilize a community to uplift those living with spinal cord injuries.

Micki is on a mission to fight for insurance coverage for ongoing necessary, spinal cord injury, rehab rehabilitation. Listen in and hear how. 

Her story is one of love, advocacy, and unwavering commitment to recovery—not just for her son, but for the thousands of others walking a similar path.

Learn more about Walking with Anthony: https://walkingwithanthony.org/

Stay Connected: Subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with anyone interested in advocacy for SCI funding! 

BLINK of an Eye® Podcast is sponsored by BLINK of an Eye® Non-Profit:

A non-profit which originated the first SCI Navigator Program in the country for newly injured SCI Families by SCI Families as an essential national resource for Spinal Cord Injured families in the first days, weeks and months of SCI crisis when life turns upside down and few medical teams in the US have SCI expertise or lived experience. They bring essential support, connections, life expertise and resources. BLINK of an Eye non profit deploys a rapid response HEAL Team for ICU bedside support to create an Extraordinary Experience despite the devastation for SCI families and a personal SCI Navigator for 24/7 support in the first 90 days and throughout the Miracle Year. BLINK of an Eye non profit also provides a Multidisciplinary Wrap Around Team and SCI Expert Medical Panel.  Stay tuned for their launch of a National Digital Resource Library, the SCI PLAYBOOK, chocked full of essential SCI information and trauma informed responses for the first hours, days and months after injury. To find out more, get involved, or make a donation, visit www.BLINKofaneye.org.

To find out more about Louise visit: www.BlinkofanEye.org, www.BaltimoreMediation.com, www.BeingRelational.com

and www.BaltimoreMediation.com

Blink of an Eye is sponsored by New Mobility:

For more than three decades, New Mobility has published groundbreaking content for active wheelchair users. We share practical advice from wheelchair users across the country, review life-changing technology and demand equity in healthcare, travel and all facets of life. Please visit https://newmobility.com/ to learn more

Blink of an Eye is sponsored by Baltimore Mediation:

To find out more about cutting edge conflict transformation skills courses to learn relational conflict theory and advocacy, mediation interventions and support for leaders and anyone navigating or facilitating difficult situations, conflict, or trauma, visit the website www.BaltimoreMediation.com and register for nationally certified 40 hour courses, including the Enneagram of personality for mediators to know themselves to stay neutral while offering opportunity for other’s empowerment.