Lately, it has been hot, so I decided to do something that would make life a little easier. I cooked a bunch of different meals in the crock pot, put them into containers, and froze them. That way, when the weather is hot, I wouldn't have to do much cooking. Then a flyer came in from the local Mexican market. They had pineapples, plantains, mangoes, watermelon, cucumbers—fresh fruits and vegetables at really good prices. They also had beef shanks. So after the gym, I had my caretaker take me to the store. I already had plenty of food at home. I had meals in the freezer, food in the refrigerator, and everything I needed. I wasn't going to the store because I was running out of food. But when I got there, something happened. I felt happy. The store was colorful and full of fresh food. I could choose one of this, two of that, three of something else. I wasn't limited to whatever quantity happened to come in a package. I could actually look at what I wanted and decide what I wa...
Help Me Stay Housed While Recovering From a Life-Changing Accident
On September 6th, my life changed in an instant when a driver crossed into my lane on Ortega Highway and hit me head-on. My car was thrown into the air and I nearly lost my life. My vehicle was completely totaled.
I spent four months in the hospital. The first part was in a trauma unit where I was placed in an induced coma and underwent multiple life-saving surgeries. I was then transferred to an acute care facility where I required critical support, including IVs, a tracheostomy, a feeding tube, and dialysis.
- Loss of my right leg
- Six broken ribs and two vertebrae
- Broken pelvis, right arm, and wrist
- Multiple fractures in my left leg
- Kidney and heart failure from trauma
- Many of my injuries required surgical repair with metal hardware that I am still healing from
After returning home, my focus has been recovery. I’ve faced infections, complications, and delayed healing that have slowed my ability to use a prosthetic. I am now preparing for another surgery to remove hardware from my left ankle due to rejection.
I am currently unable to work. Even basic movement requires effort, pain management, and rest.
Before the accident, I was a working photographer, independent and supporting myself. I never imagined that one unexpected event could completely change everything—no one prepares for something like this, or how quickly life can shift.
I had already survived a stroke during the pandemic and spent years rebuilding my health and independence. I had just reached a major recovery milestone in August 2025 when this accident happened in September, setting me back into another long recovery.
I’m into fitness and holistic healing, and I’ve always been health-conscious. Right now, I am focused on rebuilding my strength and learning to live again after this trauma.
While I’ve been focused on healing, the financial reality has caught up with me. My landlord was patient at first, but I now owe back rent and need to show how I will move forward. As of May 1st, I am approximately $8,800 behind on rent.
The driver who hit me carried minimal insurance, and while my attorney is pursuing additional legal options, these processes take time. Disability support is still in progress and has not provided immediate help.
I knew this moment would come. I had anticipated needing to have a plan, but everything available to me—disability, legal processes, and assistance programs—moves slowly and is outside my control. Now that this moment is here, I do not have immediate answers, and the situation is urgent.
Up until now, I’ve been getting by through a combination of support from friends, SNAP benefits, and IHSS caregiver assistance, but even with all of that, it is not enough to cover housing and basic living expenses.
I am at risk of losing my home of 11 years.
This home is not just a place to live—it’s the first home in my adult life where I truly started to feel rooted. In my earlier years, I moved often and lived my life more as a single woman in transition, where it was easy to pick up and go when I wanted a change, and I never really put down roots or built something that felt permanent. Over time, that changed. This became the first place where I began to settle and build a life I could see as stable and long-term.
This was the home I had started to think of as my future and even my retirement home. The thought of having to leave everything I’ve built and created here is devastating.
If I lose my home, I don’t have another place to go.
I’m also not in a position where I can simply relocate. Because of my injuries, I have specific physical and accessibility needs. I rely on equipment like a bedside commode and a shower chair, and I cannot navigate stairs or multi-level housing due to my mobility limitations. This home has already been adapted to support my current needs, and finding another place that is safe, accessible, and available is not something I can quickly or easily do. I also do not have the financial means to relocate.
I also have a small 8-pound Shih Tzu who was in the car with me during the accident and somehow made it through without a scratch, and a cat at home. They are my family, and this home is theirs too. Keeping us together and in a stable place while I recover means everything to me.
I also want to share that I hesitated to start a GoFundMe or ask the public for help. It has been emotionally difficult and humbling to be in this position, and even putting this together has been challenging.
On top of everything, I’ve dealt with brain fog and cognitive fatigue from pain management medications during recovery, which has made it harder to focus and organize my thoughts.
I am asking for help to stay housed and cover basic living expenses while I heal.
If you’re able to contribute or help share my story, I would truly appreciate it. Even if you’re not able to donate, sharing may help me reach someone who can.
Thank you for taking the time to read this.
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