Fundraising money for prosthetics

LEGS FOR NICOL

Guryn family raises funds to help an Ecuadorian dancer have prosthetic legs

BY SERENA DUGAR IOANE

Brooke Guryn shared how her faith grew after starting a fundraiser to raise money for a young girl from Ecuador to receive prosthetic legs after she was injured in an auto accident.

Guryn, a sophomore from Canada majoring in elementary education and psychology, shared she still needs help for the last step in getting Nicol Tobar prosthetics. Tobar needs funds for her travel and accommodation to Quito, Ecuador, to where the organization is that is providing her prosthetics.

A tragic accident

Guryn served in the Guayaquil Ecuador South Mission from 2017 to 2019. While serving in a branch in Pasaje, Ecuador, she met Nicol Tobar, a 17-year-old dancer and branch member.

Guryn said Tobar was outside helping a dance therapy class in 2018 when a 15-year-old boy pinned both her legs against a wall with his car during a police chase. This caused damage to both her legs, leading to her having both legs amputated above the knees.

“I remember the day I found out about her accident. I felt sick to my stomach and couldn’t believe why something so tragic could happen to someone,” Guryn commented. “The whole town of Pasaje knew of what happened. Every investigator and member we visited would ask us soberly, ‘Why do such things happen to good people, and why did she deserve this?’”

Guryn struggled to answer their questions and help with their doubts while experiencing them herself. But Guryn said she had never doubted God’s plan when hard things happen. “I know He always has something beautiful in store, but this time I was unsure.

“I couldn’t comprehend her feelings and how hard of a trial she would have to experience. Would she believe in a loving, caring God when she just lost her mobility and ability to dance? Little did I know she learned of Him. She learned of His goodness as she recovered from such a tragic accident. She felt His grace as she had to lean on Him every step of the way.”

Learning the Lord’s grace through hardships

Guryn left Pasaje a few weeks after Tobar’s accident. She said it was hard not to know how Tobar was doing. When she came back home, she immediately added Tobar on Facebook. “I cried as I saw she had a photo in her wheelchair graduating high school. Just a few months after getting out of the hospital, she said Tobar had courageously gone back to school and graduated with a massive, beautiful smile on her face.

“I went through her Facebook, photo after photo, smiling with all her friends. Doing her make-up and dressing up so nicely. I was so proud of her courage and her strength,” Guryn shared.

Inspiration to raise funds

Guryn said one night she was talking with her family about Tobar, and her mother, Melody Guryn, a senior from Canada majoring in psychology, blurted out, “Why don’t we get her prosthetic legs? Let’s put jars around the city.” Brooke Guryn said it

LEFT: Nicol Tabor is pictured with Jalen Guryn. Photo provided by Nicol Tobar. ABOVE: Fundraising for Tabor's prosthetic legs. Photo provided by Emma Funes.

was an inspiration of the Holy Spirit because they had never fundraised before.

Brooke Guryn shared she and her brother, Jalen Guryn, cut out magazines pictures to create nice jars with Tobar’s face on them and put them around stores on Vancouver Island. “One store had raised $400 in a few months. I couldn’t believe it. I started contacting the press to write an article about the jars and where they were located if anyone wanted to donate.”

The Guryn family spent months creating jars and going to businesses asking for donations. Brooke Guryn said people started offering gifts to support, which gave her an idea to have a dinner with an auction. “Almost every business I approached gave me something to support Nicol. I felt so encouraged and supported.”

After much planning and hard work, the Guryns did a fundraiser auction with dinner and music. They went door to door selling tickets, put fliers all around town, and shared it all over Facebook.

They raised $7,000 on Tobar’s behalf. Brooke Guryn said businesses from all over the city donated everything: auction gifts, food and even music. “It was an absolute miracle, and it was so exciting, stressful and joyful. In unity and love, we gathered 50 people and 15 volunteers who attended the event.”

Melody Guryn said Church members from their stake and other stakes helped them host the event. “We received so much help and support from people, and everything was taken care of by God’s hands.” When Brooke Guryn started fundraising, she told Tobar how much support and love she has from her community. Tobar said, “Thank you to the people in Canada. I’m so grateful for your love and support.”

Brooke Guryn said a man who contacted her to donate to the fundraiser told her she was meant to be there and bring Tobar’s story to Canada. “I knew that day the truth of what he said. I knew the Lord was involved.

“I was supposed to bring her story and be her voice. I know it opened up her world, and she knew she was known and was loved.”

Brooke Guryn said Tobar has been moving forward with perseverance and strength since graduating from high school with courage and dignity. “She has been working in a local office, continuing to socialize and serve others as well as prepare for university and learn English.”

A miracle

A month after Brooke Guryn contacted many places, one organization got back. Range of Motion Project (ROMP) is a non-profit organization that mainly works in South America, Guatemala and Ecuador to help people who cannot afford to be mobile again. They were more than happy to help Tobar walk again, Brooke Guryn said.

In September of last year, the organization told the Guryns the money they had raised was sufficient.

“We were in shock. Two prosthetic legs cost over $100,000, and the amount we had raised was not enough,” Brooke Guryn explained.

“However, they had the materials, and even brand-new bionic knees that were donated right before Nicol went to Quito, Ecuador, to meet the ROMP’s CEO, David Krupa, and get sized in February.”

Josefine C. Ferger, a family friend of Guryn’s, said when Brooke wanted to help Tobar, it was amazing, but it seemed so hard at the beginning. “However, their faith was strong. There was a lot of uncertainty, but they pushed through a lot. It is so impactful and selfless. In the end, they reached the goal, and I am glad to be a part of such a beautiful thing.”

Ferger shared she has learned when people do what they can, God will do the rest.

“Brooke and Melody did all they could, and God showed His miracles. They have raised a good amount of money, and it was still not enough, but one donor provided the way. They opened up a new door for Nicol. I hope I will remember this principle for the rest of my life and apply it. Witnessing this project was life-changing.”

ROMP uses donated prosthetics and makes their own. They have everything prepared so Tobar can start the first phase on stubbies, then to full prosthetics, Brooke Guryn said.

“She hasn’t walked in two years, and she was able to start her journey in March 2020, but due to COVID-19, everything got pushed back due to interprovincial travel being shut down,” Brooke Guryn shared. “We recently were told Nicol is now allowed to travel and will be able to go for her first phase of prosthetics. ... Martha Christianson, CEO of J-slips Hawaii, has fully covered all expenses for her first trip to get her first phase of prosthetics.

Guryn said they are grateful for their generosity “to support Nicol in this life-changing experience of receiving two prosthetics legs. Due to her support, we can get her to the ROMP organization to start her hard but beautiful journey to mobility.”

The organization is located in Quito, Ecuador, a 10-hour bus ride away from Tobar. “Nicol will be able to do it there and have the rehabilitation and support she needs from this organization,” Guryn said.

“Nicol is very humble and the definition of sweet. When she found out about what we were doing, she was more than grateful. She was filled with joy, felt loved and blessed by the Lord,” Brooke Guryn shared.

Brooke Guryn said Tobar shared her testimony was faltering after her accident, but now she has a testimony stronger than ever. “She thanks God every day for everything He has blessed her with. I think that is the greatest gift anyone can receive is a strengthened relationship with the Lord.

“If my contribution and service have helped her to see the Lord’s grace and unconditional love in her life, that is the most amazing reward to me.”

Melody Guryn said their family was baptized six years ago, and Brooke Guryn is the first person who served a mission from their family. “When I sent my daughter to Ecuador, I was scared and unsure. However, I knew she was supposed to go there and be the voice of Tobar. ... I believe it is still a part of Brooke’s mission.

“It is just amazing to see how these two young ladies helped and strengthened each other through their struggles. God has aligned them in that way.”

Brooke Guryn said she has learned to never turn down an opportunity to make someone’s life easier. “I know our small efforts to serve the Lord’s children come back tenfold. I will never regret taking my time to serve the Lord’s children and my brothers and sisters. Their joy gives me joy and as well as the Lord. I promise He will provide a way as He did for Nicol.”

According to Brooke Guryn, donations are appreciated as they need to raise more funds so Tobar can travel to Quito with her mom, and for hotel accommodations, food, incidentals and time off work. To donate to this cause, visit https://gf.me/u/y2wgf7.

BYUH student Brooke Guryn helped raise money to purchase prosthetic legs for a young women in South America. Photo by Emma Funes.