Sabinas' Medical Fund

Hi Everyone!

 First off, I would like to thank my family, friends, and dog for being there for me during this hard time.

 My name is Sabina Teodorescu. I am a United States Air Force Veteran, a full-time college student, and a naturalized citizen. After being stationed at Luke AFB in Arizona for 6 years, I decided to go back to college. Having spent so much time in hot weather, I wanted to live closer to water.  By Summer’s end of 2014, I moved to Huntington Beach, CA. I have been at Golden West College in Huntington Beach, CA since August of 2014. I am currently pursuing my Associates in Arts Degree in Psychology. This tragic car accident has slowed down my educational goals, but it has not deterred me from continuing college. I cannot stop working towards accomplishing what I came here to do. 

 What happened to me could have happened to anyone.

 On November 10th of 2015, the day before Veterans’ Day, I was a passenger in a fatal car accident. A friend and I were driving in the carpool lane to go home after watching a movie with some friends in Laguna Nigel. We were on the 405 North in Irvine when a drunk driver had made an illegal U-turn on the highway into our lane. In the articles and reports that I have attached, you will see titles such as "Fatal Wrong Way Driver," "Asian Woman Driving Wrong Way," and "Wrong Way Crash." I was a passenger in the black vehicle, and when you look at the YouTube video of the scene, it is difficult to imagine that I survived in one whole piece.

 What the articles won't say was that it was a drunk driver that was driving the wrong way on the 405 North.  Rieko Toyama was under the influence. Consequently, Rieko was not wearing her seatbelt, did not have car insurance, and died on the scene. Because she did not have car insurance, the individuals that were affected by this car accident were left with large medical bills.

 2016 for me was a recovery year. Just recently, having come to a clearer mind. I have realized how much this accident has affected me. I am far from done with rehab, but I am ecstatic to say I am no longer on any prescription medication. I had major surgery on my left wrist and 4 months of occupational therapy. It took a year for me to get seen by a rehab physician at the VA hospital, get approved for physical therapy, chiropractor appointments, and to get a traumatic brain injury analysis.

I am a disabled veteran with a disability percentage that allows me to have health insurance through the VA. When I had applied through the VA and was approved for lifelong insurance, I was not advised to purchase additional insurance. This was a major accident and the VA Long Beach Emergency center does not have a trauma center. Soon after the accident I was rushed to UCI medical center. I most certainly thought and believed that the VA would cover my emergency medical bills. Unfortunately, VA health insurance is failing our Veterans, and I am no exception. The debts are left entirely up to me to pay for.

 I could not truly express how happy I am to still be here today!

 The funds raised through GoFundMe will go straight to my medical bills. The total of my medical bills were well obove $200,000 and my attonery has done a great job of lowering my medical bills down to $40,000. Because of this accident, I had lost a year of school and have spent all my savings to survive during this hard time.

 Please, by any means do not feel obligated, but every dollar helps!

 http://www.ocregister.com/articles/driving-691406-woman-freeway.html

 http://ktla.com/2015/11/10/1-killed-4-injured-in-three-car-crash-on-405-freeway-in-orange-county/

 http://mynewsla.com/orange-county/2015/11/10/1-killed-3-injured-in-multi-vehicle-irvine-crash/

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWXyyOvaLl4