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| On December 8, 2005, Morgan was admitted to the Emergency Department at Baptist Hospital in Winston Salem where an
MRI revealed a large tumor in her spinal cord between the 2nd and 6th cervical vertebrae. On December 12, Morgan underwent surgery to remove the tumor.
During her sleep the night before surgery, the tumor placed pressure of sufficient magnitude on her spinal cord that she was rendered paralyzed. When
she awoke the morning of surgery she was unable to move any part of her body and experienced difficulty breathing immediately prior to the operation.
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| Surgery to remove the tumor was successful. The tumor was classified as a pilocytic astrocytoma, and it should no
longer be a threat to her life. However, for exactly three weeks following surgery she demonstrated no "neurological" life. In the hospital she endured
a breathing tube, chest tube, tracheostomy, feeding tube, and much more. On January 3, 2006, Morgan began demonstrating her first volitional movements.
Slight as they were, it was clear that she was beginning to regain some use of her extremities.
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| On January 10, Morgan was flown to Baltimore, MD, where she spent 16 weeks undergoing rehabilitative therapy at
Kennedy Krieger Institute. On the day Morgan arrived at KKI she was unable to move any part of her body without assistance. Following months of
grueling therapies, from re-learning how to sit and stand to taking part in groundbreaking pediatric therapy using electrical stimulation (e-stim)
to ride a stationary bicycle, Morgan walked out the door of KKI under her own power on May 4. |
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| This website was created on December 15 to serve as a means to communicate Morgan's condition and to receive
messages from friends and family. What it became was a link to literally thousands of individuals close to home and around the world. Just as
Morgan's parents and family gained strength from the messages posted by well-wishers, their updates were read with fervor for months.
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| This website is tangible evidence of the support, love, and affection showed to Morgan and her extended family
in their hour of greatest need. The prayers, gifts, monetary donations, meals, and other demonstrations of care and concern sustained the Dunnigan
and Ingersoll families through the winter and beyond. The generosity of so many has made it possible to provide Morgan with the medical care she
needs as she continues to recover. |
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| It is the family's goal to write an update approximately one time a week. Visitors to the site are encouraged
to leave messages, as they will be read and treasured by all who peruse the website. On behalf of the Dunnigan and Ingersoll families, thank you
to everyone who has done so much to assist this child, her parents, and their extended families.
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