Background — Schuyler Arakawa

Schuyler Arakawa: Back on Two Feet

Photo: Megan Hoffer Photography

Schuyler’s Story

The year after graduating from Yale, Schuyler embarked on a Yale Fellowship in South America, where she was working to expand job opportunities for women. While on a weekend rafting adventure in Colombia, she was exploring a grotto when a boulder dislodged and sent her plunging into the water below.

Schuyler was transported to a local hospital, then to Bogota, and ultimately medevac’d to Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami. She underwent multiple surgeries — including five brain surgeries. Her doctors were not sure she would survive, let alone recover.

After going in and out of a coma for two months, Schuyler woke up with the community she had built standing around her. In the weeks following her accident, the love and strength of that community were visible in full force. A GoFundMe campaign raised more than $200,000 for her emergency medical care. Friends traveled to Miami every weekend, and those farther away shared updates and encouragement through a Facebook page, “Schuy is the Limit.” Fellow Yalies organized a Dance-A-Thon fundraiser and nightly prayer services for two weeks.

When Schuyler emerged from her coma, she faced immense challenges. She couldn’t speak or swallow and struggled even to sit up. But with characteristic determination, she immediately got to work — enrolling in speech, occupational, and physical therapy. Over time, she regained her voice, her strength, and her independence. Today, she continues to rebuild her mobility, re-train her muscles, and prepare to re-enter the workforce. Her progress is nothing short of a miracle.

Schuyler and her incredible mother, Meridith, live lives that look very different from what they imagined five years ago — yet they continue to approach each day with positivity, resilience, and love.

The Special Needs Trust

As Schuyler and Meridith have navigated this new chapter, they have also faced ongoing hurdles — both expected and unexpected. To ensure stability and opportunity for Schuyler over the long term, four of her college friends came together to establish a Special Needs Trust in 2019.

The trust allows us to fundraise, invest, and distribute funds on Schuyler’s behalf, ensuring she continues to have access to the care, equipment, and opportunities that will help her thrive.

Ongoing Progress

Since our last fundraiser in 2021, Schuyler has continued to make immense progress. With support from the trust, she attends monthly targeted physical therapy at NextStep in Orlando, Florida, where she is getting stronger and closer to walking independently. She has also started aqua therapy and adaptive gymnastics to further build her balance and mobility.

Beyond her physical achievements, Schuyler has built an extraordinary community. She is an active participant in The Ashmere Project, a summer camp for individuals with disabilities, and she was crowned Miss Wheelchair Florida in 2025, going on to compete at Nationals in Michigan.

While these successes are tremendous, Schuyler still faces many challenges — both day-to-day and long-term. In order to support her ongoing medical care and therapy, as well as build financial stability for her future, we are launching a second fundraiser for Schuyler’s Special Needs Trust in recognition of the 10-year anniversary since her accident.

Photo: Cedric Angeles

We hope you will join us by making a gift today.

We appreciate any and all continuing contributions toward Schuyler’s recovery! Any funds gifted to the trust today are balanced between spending for Schuyler’s immediate use and investing for Schuyler’s long-term needs. Your gift can both help us schedule an extra NextStep session for her next year and grow to help pay for advanced medical and therapeutic equipment. Thank you!

Please note that Schuyler and her special needs trust are not 501(c)(3) organizations, so we cannot accept any gifts from family foundations. We also note that all gifts to the trust are subject to the gift tax and are not eligible for the annual exclusion.

If you would like to fund Schuyler's physical therapy more directly, NextStep is able to take contributions toward Schuyler’s future appointments. You are not making a taxable donation by funding these sessions, but by writing out a check to NextStep Fitness, Inc., 277 Douglas Avenue #1006, Altamonte Springs, FL 32714 with Schuyler’s name in the memo line or donating here with Schuyler’s name in the comments section, you can dedicate your full gift toward immediate impact this year!

We appreciate any amount you are able to give. If you have any questions, please feel free to email the trustees at: schuylerbackon2feet@gmail.com.

Our Goals

Support Schuyler’s medical development as she works to get back on her feet.
Protect Schuyler’s quality of life in the event of an emergency or unexpected challenge.
Provide long-term financial security so Schuyler can continue to build a safe, stable, and fulfilling future.

Letter from Schuyler

Hi guys! Thanks for all the support. The GoFundMe from last time helped pay for everything from medical expenses to caregivers. I’ve made so much progress. I’ve gone from not being able to see or speak (my eyes were taped closed and my mouth was wired shut) to being able to transfer and stand basically on my own. I never thought such basic things like walking, talking and feeding myself would be such big feats. I work on an eksoskeleton twice a week (shoutout to Kate Ford for setting me up at Burke after her wedding where we kicked off the exercise.) The eksoskeleton is essentially a robot suit that allows me to walk while reporting the amount of support it provides for my balance. Physical therapy is normally once a week. In normal physical therapy I practice walking, sit-to-stands, transfers, and then sitting on a yoga ball. I do a free physical therapy bootcamp at Nova Southeastern and compete in the Miss Florida Wheelchair every year.

My goal is to walk again which I think I’m on the way to accomplishing. Before the accident I had traveled to 5 out of 7 continents and had been to countries like Nepal, Tanzania, Croatia, and Greece. Traveling has been pretty hard now because airplane aisles are too narrow to fit a wheelchair! All through college I loved to travel and immerse myself in a new community and culture to help people. (I had danced for 13 years so I’m used to being very active!) I want to get back to changing the world and I believe with your help I will!