As long as I can recall, this community has always come together when one of its own hits a rough patch in life. Annie Leslie has hit a rough patch, and I am hoping that we will all come together and do the right thing for this young lady.
Annie graduated from Wilde Lake High School in 2006 and then from James Madison University. While at Wilde Lake, she was a dedicated member of the soccer, indoor track and lacrosse teams. She moved to Los Angeles this past spring to begin a one-year program with Google.
She had her entire life ahead of her when she started to experience severe headaches. She was taken to the community hospital where she was diagnosed with a brain aneurysm.
While the doctors were in the process of relieving that aneurysm, it ruptured and Annie sustained severe brain damage. She was eventually taken to UCLA Medical Center where she spent a month in intensive care.
She is currently in an acute long term care facility and the hope is that her family can bring her back east to continue what could be a lengthy rehab.
As one might expect, the medical costs are mounting, and that's where this community can help. Her friend Lindsey Oken has organized a fundraiser though CrowdRise to help with those medical costs.
Go to CrowdRise.com/AnnieLeslie for more information. All donations go to HelpHopeLive Mid-Atlanic Traumatic Brain Injury Fund designated for Annie.
Annie has a long road of rehabilitation ahead, and it is important that we all join together to give her a chance of living a better life.
Mike Harrison, her former lacrosse coach and teacher at Wilde Lake was shocked when told of Annie's situation.
"She was a great kid. She played hard and studied hard. She was an ideal high school student. She was wonderful to have in your classroom," he said.