My name is Nik (aka Nikki), and I'm raising funds for my mom, Teresa Smith.

My mom is a 38 year career nurse, who was diagnosed with epilepsy at the age of 12.

On Tuesday, 9/23/25, she became suddenly and violently ill, unable to eat or drink, and ended up falling at home, fracturing her spine.

On Friday, 9/26, she was picked up by ambulance and taken to the ER. She was in the hospital in Selma, AL for a week, where they established that she had been having recurring seizures, and discovered the back fractures.

From there she was transferred to DCH hospital in Tuscaloosa to run more testing.

They stabilized her, stopping the seizures. Her cognitive ability-which has been in decline-began to quickly improve. However, she remained hospitalized for several weeks, as she continued to fight a few systemic infections (UTI, colitis), and was unable to stand or walk due to weakened legs and fractured vertebrae.

The hospital will be discharging her on Friday, 10/24. Because she was uninsured and unemployed at the time of her illness, she is unable to be placed in a rehab facility for a long term stay. However, she is eligible for daytime physical therapy, which will cost around $300/DAY.

My dad, Joey, is disabled and has limited mobility himself, and will now have to take on the responsibility of being her caretaker. I am also on limited income, and cannot currently contribute to help pay for her therapy. So I started this GFM to help raise funds for her.

Even two weeks of daytime PT would help her make progress in getting walking again. That would be around $4500-$5000. She will also need mobility aides and other essentials for home.

If you can donate, that would mean the world. If you can also help spread the word and share our story on your socials, I know my parents would be deeply grateful.

Thank you for any help you can offer! My mom has spent nearly 40 years saving lives. I have witnessed her rushing to a patient's room to begin CPR during a crash. She's a hero.

And now, she is the one in need. Please be a hero for her.

Thank you and bless you,

Nik